Onager
From the horse family, these are hardy animals, a little larger in size than a donkey. They have short legs and a tail with a dark tassel on the end. Their coats are a reddish brown colour in summer, turning a more yellow to buff colour in winter. Their undersides are buff and they have a distinctive black stripe bordered with white which runs from the neck along the middle of their back. They have a dark, upright mane and dark tips on the ears.
These animals have a keen sense of smell. They are also extremely fast runners. They were reportedly used to pull chariots in ancient times, though they are notoriously difficult to tame.
What they eat
Vegetation: grasses, seedpods, herbs.
How long they live
25-30 years on average.
The oldest recorded Onager was aged 40.
Biology
Onagers live in groups comprising about five females and a single male, and these groups often congregate into larger herds. Males reach sexual maturity at three years old and females at two.
Most young are born in spring and summer, after a pregnancy of 11 months. The female leaves the herd to give birth and then returns with her foal. Females will usually give birth to just a single foal which they nurture and protect over many months. The young are generally weaned at about two years old, after which they become independent.
The stomachs of Onagers contain tiny microscopic protoza which help them to digest grasses inedible to other animals.
Did you know?
Onagers feature in many famous ancient Arabic poems which tell of their stubborn nature and of the hunters who stalked them.
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Species Profile
Common name
Onager (Also known as Asian Wild Ass)
Scientific name
Equus hemionus onager
Animal group/type
Mammal - horse
Where they live
Iran
Habitat
Flat steppe regions, deserts and semi-desert areas, always close to springs or oasis
Size
1.98 – 2.4m
Weight
200 – 260kg
Conservation status (IUCN Red List)
Critically Endangered
Threats
Overgrazing by domestic livestock which competes with them for food and water supplies.
Poaching for their meat and hides.
Habitat loss due to agricultural and other development.
Drought.
Inbreeding which can lead to genetic problems, threatening their long-term health and ultimate survival as a species.
The introduction of cars and guns into the Iranian desert in the First World War led to a serious decline in the population of Onagers, with many killed or injured as a result.