With less than 150 remaining in their natural habitats, Somali wild asses are among the rarest wild equids in the world, the zoo said.
DENVER — The Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance has a new member: Its first Somali wild ass foal, a critically endangered species.
The baby with a grey coat was welcomed on Jan. 14 by her mother, Daisy, and her first-time father, Kamowa. Although she has not been named yet, she is already displaying a strong personality – just three days after her birth, the zoo described her as “spunky”, exploring her new surroundings and charming visitors with her character.
Somali wild asses, with less than 150 remaining in their natural habitats in eastern Africa, are considered one of the rarest wild equids globally, as stated by the zoo. This endangered species is threatened by factors such as habitat destruction and competition with domestic animals, the zoo added.
Denver Zoo’s Somali wild ass herd is playing a crucial role in boosting their population and ensuring the survival of these animals, given that only 11 facilities in North America are home to this species, as reported by the zoo.
“We are beyond thrilled to welcome the newest member of our herd. She has already shown that she is bright and confident, with a little sass thrown in for good measure,” said Denver Zoo’s lead animal care specialist, Megan Grady, in a statement shared through the zoo’s website. “All births are a big deal, but there’s something a little extra special when it’s a Critically Endangered species like Somali wild ass. We are excited to start building relationships and training with this new little lady and are inspired by all the opportunities she represents for our program.”
To learn more about the foal and the zoo’s conservation efforts, click here.
