Sardar Sarovar Project—a conservation threat to the Indian wild ass (Equus hemionus khur)

AbstractHistorically, the onager or Persian wild ass Equus hemionus onager, endemic to Iran, was widespread on the arid and semi-arid central steppes but only two natural populations remain. We estimated the population density of the onager in Qatruiyeh National Park using line transect distance sampling. Transects were surveyed on three plains in the Park and the results compared with total counts conducted by the Department of Environment. Our estimate (109 onagers per 100 km2; 95% confidence interval 67–179) is similar to that obtained by the total counts (137 onagers per 100 km2). Distance sampling is therefore a promising method for estimating the abundance of the onager. Using the annual censuses performed by the Department of Environment over the last 13 years we estimated that the population has a growth rate of 0.09. During the same period the onager population in the Touran Protected Complex has experienced a severe decline. The high density of onagers within the National Park indicates the unsuitability of adjacent habitats, including Bahram-e-Goor Protected Area, for this species. Lack of sufficient security and poorly distributed water sources appear to be the main reasons discouraging onagers from entering the Bahram-e-Goor Protected Area. We recommend and describe management interventions that could potentially assist in maintaining the last surviving onager populations in Iran.

Download Full-text

Asian Wild Ass, Kulan — Equus hemionus

Ecology of Ungulates ◽

10.1007/978-3-662-06820-5_2 ◽

2003 ◽

pp. 5-14

Author(s):

Leonid Baskin ◽

Kjell Danell

Keyword(s):

Equus Hemionus ◽

Wild Ass

Download Full-text

Low genetic diversity of the endangered Indian wild ass Equus hemionus khur, as revealed by microsatellite analyses

Journal of Genetics ◽

10.1007/s12041-017-0784-9 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 96 (S1) ◽

pp. 31-34

Author(s):

Devendra Khaire ◽

Ashwin Atkulwar ◽

Sameera Farah ◽

Mumtaz Baig

Keyword(s):

Genetic Diversity ◽

Low Genetic Diversity ◽

Equus Hemionus ◽

Wild Ass ◽

Microsatellite Analyses

Download Full-text

Histological variability in the limb bones of the Asiatic wild ass and its significance for life history inferences

PeerJ ◽

10.7717/peerj.2580 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 4 ◽

pp. e2580 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Carmen Nacarino-Meneses ◽

Xavier Jordana ◽

Meike Köhler

Keyword(s):

Life History ◽

Bone Tissue ◽

Bone Growth ◽

Skeletal Maturity ◽

Life History Strategy ◽

Conservation Strategies ◽

Limb Bones ◽

Equus Hemionus ◽

Wild Ass ◽

Asiatic Wild Ass

The study of bone growth marks (BGMs) and other histological traits of bone tissue provides insights into the life history of present and past organisms. Important life history traits like longevity or age at maturity, which could be inferred from the analysis of these features, form the basis for estimations of demographic parameters that are essential in ecological and evolutionary studies of vertebrates. Here, we study the intraskeletal histological variability in an ontogenetic series of Asiatic wild ass (Equus hemionus) in order to assess the suitability of several skeletal elements to reconstruct the life history strategy of the species. Bone tissue types, vascular canal orientation and BGMs have been analyzed in 35 cross-sections of femur, tibia and metapodial bones of 9 individuals of different sexes, ages and habitats. Our results show that the number of BGMs recorded by the different limb bones varies within the same specimen. Our study supports that the femur is the most reliable bone for skeletochronology, as already suggested. Our findings also challenge traditional beliefs with regard to the meaning of deposition of the external fundamental system (EFS). In the Asiatic wild ass, this bone tissue is deposited some time after skeletal maturity and, in the case of the femora, coinciding with the reproductive maturity of the species. The results obtained from this research are not only relevant for future studies in fossilEquus, but could also contribute to improve the conservation strategies of threatened equid species.

Download Full-text

Wild ungulates in Jordan: past, present, and forthcoming opportunities

Journal of Threatened Taxa ◽

10.11609/jott.6811.13.9.19338-19351 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (9) ◽

pp. 19338-19351

Author(s):

Ehab Eid ◽

David Mallon

Keyword(s):

Cervus Elaphus ◽

Roe Deer ◽

Capreolus Capreolus ◽

Fallow Deer ◽

Current Status ◽

Wild Ungulates ◽

Equus Hemionus ◽

Wild Ass ◽

In The Wild ◽

Arabian Oryx

Twelve species of ungulates are reported from the wild in Jordan. Three of these, Addax nasomaculatus (Addax), Bos primigenius (Aurochs), and Cervus elaphus (Red Deer) are known only from archaeological excavations. Dama mesopotamica (Mesopotamian Fallow Deer), Oryx leucoryx (Arabian Oryx) and Equus hemionus hemippus (Syrian Wild Ass) have been regionally extirpated in the wild. A semi-captive population of Persian Onager (E. h. hemionus) is held in Shumari Wildlife Reserve. The Arabian Oryx is also managed in semi-captive conditions in two reserves. Except the commonly occurring Wild Boar (Sus scrofa), other surviving ungulate species continue to be under serious threat. Gazella gazella (Palestinian Mountain Gazelle), Capreolus capreolus (European Roe Deer), Gazella marica (Arabian Sand Gazelle), and Gazella dorcas (Dorcas Gazelle) are Critically Endangered, and Capra nubiana (Nubian Ibex) is Endangered in the region. This paper provides a review of the historical and current status of wild ungulates in Jordan, listing the threats and conservation measures and provides recommendations for management and conservation in the future.

Download Full-text

Changes in wild ass (Equus hemionus khur) habitat conditions in Little Rann of Kutch, Gujarat from a remote sensing perspective

International Journal of Remote Sensing ◽

10.1080/01431169408954318 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 15 (16) ◽

pp. 3155-3164 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

S. N. PRASAD ◽

S. P. GOYAL ◽

P. S. ROY ◽

S. SINGH

Keyword(s):

Remote Sensing ◽

Habitat Conditions ◽

Equus Hemionus ◽

Wild Ass

Download Full-text

Space-Use Patterns of the Asiatic Wild Ass (Equus hemionus): Complementary Insights from Displacement, Recursion Movement and Habitat Selection Analyses

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0143279 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 10 (12) ◽

pp. e0143279 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Nina Giotto ◽

Jean-François Gerard ◽

Alon Ziv ◽

Amos Bouskila ◽

Shirli Bar-David

Keyword(s):

Habitat Selection ◽

Space Use ◽

Use Patterns ◽

Equus Hemionus ◽

Wild Ass ◽

Asiatic Wild Ass

Download Full-text

Mongolian Gobi supports the world's largest populations of khulan Equus hemionus and goitered gazelles Gazella subgutturosa

Oryx ◽

10.1017/s0030605316000417 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 51 (4) ◽

pp. 639-647 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

B. Buuveibaatar ◽

S. Strindberg ◽

P. Kaczensky ◽

J. Payne ◽

B. Chimeddorj ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Distance Sampling ◽

Aerial Survey ◽

Desert Ecosystem ◽

Gobi Desert ◽

Anthropogenic Pressure ◽

Abundance Estimates ◽

Equus Hemionus ◽

The Status ◽

Wild Ass ◽

Gazella Subgutturosa

AbstractMongolia's Gobi Desert ecosystem, a stronghold for populations of the Asiatic wild ass (khulan) Equus hemionus and the goitered gazelle Gazella subgutturosa, faces conservation challenges as a result of rapid economic development, including mining-related infrastructure projects. There is a paucity of reliable data on population abundance for these ungulates in the region, which makes it difficult to assess how they are responding to increasing anthropogenic pressure. Our aim was to obtain abundance estimates for khulan and goitered gazelles to inform their management and form the basis of a long-term monitoring programme. Each year during 2012–2015 we surveyed a total of 64 line transects spaced 20 km apart, with a total of 3,464 km of survey effort across 78,717 km2. Distance sampling analysis provided annual estimates of density and abundance, which were cross-referenced with the results of an aerial survey conducted in 2013. Overall, we observed 784 groups (14,608 individuals) of khulan and 1,033 groups (3,955 individuals) of goitered gazelles during the four surveys. The abundance estimates for 2013 were 35,899 (95% CI 22,680–40,537) khulan and 28,462 (95% CI 21,326–37,987) goitered gazelles. These estimates were congruent with the results from the aerial survey, which overlapped spatially and temporally with our ground-based survey. Our findings confirm that Mongolia's Gobi Desert supports the largest population of khulan and goitered gazelles in the world, and we provide a critical update on the status of the two species.

Download Full-text