The Persian onager (Equus hemionus onager), also called the Persian wild ass or Persian zebra, is a subspecies[3] of onager (Asiatic wild ass) native to Iran. It is listed as Endangered,[1] with no more than 600 individuals left in the wild.
Description
Persian onagers are 6.7–8.3 feet (2.0–2.5 m) long, reach 3.3–4.8 feet (1.0–1.5 m) at the shoulder, and weigh 200–260 kg (440–570 lb).[4] Females are slightly smaller than males.[5]
Typically the coat is a sandy red, with a brown dorsal stripe. Thin strips of white on either side of the dorsal stripe merge with the white patch on the rear. There is also white on the underside and flanks.[5]
Taxonomy and history
A drawing of a Persian onager
The Persian onager is also simply named gur (گور) meaning "zebra" in Persian. "Onager" is from the Greekὄναγρος (onagros), meaning "wild ass".
Sometimes, the term "onager" is reserved specifically for this subspecies.[3] However, as the whole species of the Asiatic wild ass is known simply as onager, it now also serves as the Persian wild ass's scientific name, as well (Equus hemionus onager). Information on the basic biology of the subspecies and how it differs from others is lacking, which hampers conservation efforts.[3]
Asiatic wild ass used to be numerous from the Middle East to China. However, until the 19th century, their population has been reduced from several thousand to a few thousand. Currently, more than 600 Persian onagers are living in the wild, with the subpopulation along the border to Turkmenistan of Central Asia unseen since the 20th century.[1]
Habitat and distribution
Persian wild asses are known to inhabit mountain steppes, semidesert, or desert plains. They are usually found in desert steppes. Their largest population is found in Khar Turan National Park.
The Persian onager is listed as endangered by IUCN Red List, as it is close to extinction. Currently, poaching for meat and hides, competition with livestock, and drought are the greatest threats to this species.
Asiatic wild asses are legally highly protected; hunting them is forbidden. The European Endangered Species Programme reserved for European Association of Zoos and Aquaria is helping save the Persian onager from extinction, by breeding them in captivity and reintroducing them to their former ranges, including in new locations once inhabited by Syrian onagers in Saudi Arabia, Israel, and Ukraine.
On August 30, 2014, Iranian officials reported that three Persian onagers were born in Khar Turan National Park reserve near Shahroud in Semnan province, where it also has the largest populations of the equids.[6]
Since 2003, Persian onagers have been introduced in Saudi Arabia, where the Syrian wild ass (E. h. hemippus) once lived. Introduced Persian onagers live in deserts foraging on grasses and branches or woodier plant material in dry seasons.[7]
In 1968, 11 Persian and Turkmenian onagers were flown from their countries to Israel in exchange for mountain gazelles. These were bred in captivity at the Hai Bar Yotvata wildlife sanctuary. Together, they bred a few Persian/Turkmenian hybrids in Israel. Offspring were introduced into the wild in the Negev Mountains area, intended to replace the local subspecies gone extinct. The introduced onagers have since established a stable population around 200 individuals.
As of 2024 it is believed there are 500-600 individuals causing damage to the local vineyards.[8]
