African wild ass (Equus africanus); this individual is at a wildlife reserve.
Image: H. Zell, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
At a glance
- IUCN category
- CR · Critically Endangered
- Animal group
- Mammals
- Population trend
- Decreasing
- FaunaHub record reviewed
- Checked against IUCN
- Matches source — IUCN's 2015 global assessment of Equus africanus says Critically EndangeredChecked 2026-10-09 against IUCN's Red List export published 2026-07-28 · assessment
Conservation overview
The African wild ass is the wild ancestor of the domestic donkey and one of the rarest wild equids. It is assessed as Critically Endangered.
It is superbly adapted to harsh desert, with grey coats and striped legs.
Range & habitat
Arid deserts of the Horn of Africa, including parts of Eritrea and Ethiopia.
Major threats
Threats below are drawn from the authoritative sources listed on this page. For the current, complete assessment, see the IUCN Red List.
- Hunting for food and traditional medicine
- Competition with livestock for water
- Interbreeding with domestic donkeys
Why it matters
The wild forebear of the donkey, the African wild ass is both an agricultural ancestor and a flagship for the embattled wildlife of the Horn of Africa.
Gallery
African wild ass (Equus africanus).
Image: päts from Mexico, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Sources
Sources for African Wild Ass
- IUCN Red List — look up African Wild Ass (authoritative status)
- Animal Diversity Web