Zebras, Asses and Horses
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Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan Equids: Zebras, Asses and Horses Edited by Patricia D. Moehlman IUCN/SSC Equid Specialist Group Donors to the SSC Conservation Communications Programme and the Equids: Zebras, Asses and Horses Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan The IUCN Species Survival Commission is committed to communicate important species conservation information to natural resource managers, decision makers and others whose actions affect the conservation of biodiversity. The SSC’s Action Plans, Occasional Papers, newsletter Species and other publications are supported by a wide variety of generous donors including: The Sultanate of Oman established the Peter Scott IUCN/SSC Action Plan Fund in 1990. The Fund supports Action Plan development and implementation. To date, more than 80 grants have been made from the Fund to SSC Specialist Groups. The SSC is grateful to the Sultanate of Oman for its confidence in and support for species conservation worldwide. The Council of Agriculture (COA), Taiwan has awarded major grants to the SSC’s Wildlife Trade Programme and Conservation Communications Programme. This support has enabled SSC to continue its valuable technical advisory service to the Parties to CITES as well as to the larger global conservation community. Among other responsibilities, the COA is in charge of matters concerning the designation and management of nature reserves, conservation of wildlife and their habitats, conservation of natural landscapes, coordination of law enforcement efforts, as well as promotion of conservation education, research and international cooperation. The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) provides significant annual operating support to the SSC. WWF’s contribution supports the SSC’s minimal infrastructure and helps ensure that the voluntary network and publications programme are adequately supported. WWF aims to conserve nature and ecological processes by: (1) preserving genetic, species, and ecosystem diversity; (2) ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable both now and in the longer term; and (3) promoting actions to reduce pollution and the wasteful exploitation and consumption of resources and energy. WWF is one of the world’s largest independent conservation organisations with a network of National Organisations and Associates around the world and over 5.2 million regular supporters. WWF continues to be known as World Wildlife Fund in Canada and in the United States of America. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), UK has the following aim: Sustainable development, which means a better quality of life for everyone, now and for generations to come, including: • A better environment at home and internationally, and sustainable use of natural resources; • economic prosperity through sustainable farming, fishing, food, water and other industries that meet consumers’ requirements; • thriving economies and communities in rural areas and a countryside for all to enjoy. DEFRA supports a Red List Officer position at the SSC Centre in Cambridge, UK, where the SSC Trade Programme staff are also located. The Ocean Conservancy (TOC). The mission of The Ocean Conservancy (TOC), formerly the Center for Marine Conservation, is to protect ocean ecosystems and conserve the global abundance and diversity of marine wildlife. Through science-based advocacy, research and public education, TOC informs, inspires and empowers people to speak and act for the oceans. In all its work, TOC strives to be the world’s foremost advocate for the oceans. With its headquarters in the US, The Ocean Conservancy provides invaluable in-kind and funding support to the marine work of SSC. Wildlife Trust is a 30 year-old US-based conservation science organisation that partners with local conservation scientists and educators in some 20 countries to save endangered species and their habitats with innovative, community- based solutions. Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan Equids: Zebras, Asses and Horses ii Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan Equids: Zebras, Asses and Horses Edited by Patricia D. Moehlman IUCN/SSC Equid Specialist Group IUCN – The World Conservation Union 2002 iii The designation of geographical entities in this book, and the presentation of the material, do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of IUCN concerning the legal status of any country, territory, or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of IUCN. Published by: IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK Copyright: © 2002 International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources Reproduction of this publication for educational or other non-commercial purposes is authorised without prior written permission from the copyright holder provided the source is fully acknowledged. Reproduction of this publication for resale or other commercial purposes is prohibited without prior written permission of the copyright holder. Citation: Moehlman, Patricia D. (ed.). (2002). Equids: Zebras, Asses and Horses. Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan. IUCN/ SSC Equid Specialist Group. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK. ix + 190 pp. ISBN: 2-8317-0647-5 Cover photo: African wild ass (Equus africanus). © Patricia D. Moehlman, 1997. Produced by: The NatureBureau, Newbury, UK Printed by: H. Charlesworth & Co Ltd., Huddersfield, UK Available from: IUCN Publications Services Unit 219c Huntingdon Road, Cambridge CB3 0DL, United Kingdom Tel: +44 1223 277894, Fax: +44 1223 277175 E-mail: [email protected] http://iucn.org A catalogue of IUCN publications is also available. The text of this book is printed on 115 gsm Go Silk, which is rated as 4-star under the Eco-Check system and is made from 100% sustainable fibre sources using chlorine-free processes. iv Contents Foreword .....................................................................vii 3.6 Recommended actions ........................................ 39 3.7 References ........................................................... 41 Acknowledgements .....................................................viii Chapter 4. Status and Action Plan for the Plains Executive Summary ......................................................ix Zebra (Equus burchellii) .............................................. 43 MACE A. HACK, ROD EAST AND DAN I. RUBENSTEIN PART 1 4.1 Nomenclature and conservation status ............... 43 Species Status and Conservation Action Plans: 4.2 Taxonomy ........................................................... 44 Africa ........................................................................... 1 4.3 Quagga: species or subspecies? ............................ 44 4.4 Range .................................................................. 46 Chapter1. Status and Action Plan for the African 4.5 Ecology: what drives habitat selection and Wild Ass (Equus africanus)............................................2 ranging patterns? ................................................. 46 PATRICIA D. MOEHLMAN 4.6 Ecology: promoter of grassland biodiversity ...... 47 1.1 Nomenclature and conservation status ................. 2 4.7 Population dynamics: important parameters 1.2 Biological data.......................................................2 and ecological consequences ............................... 47 1.3 Behavioural ecology ..............................................4 4.8 Social organisation: implications for 1.4 Actual and potential threats ..................................6 population dynamics and genetics....................... 49 1.5 Current legal protection ........................................ 7 4.9 Current population numbers and trends ............. 49 1.6 Captive populations ..............................................7 4.10 Captive populations ............................................ 55 1.7 Research activities ................................................. 7 4.11 Threats and conservation issues .......................... 55 1.8 Gaps in knowledge ................................................8 4.12 Proposed actions ................................................. 56 1.9 Recommended actions .......................................... 8 4.13 References ........................................................... 57 1.10 References ............................................................. 9 PART 2 Chapter 2. Status and Action Plan for Grévy’s Zebra Species Status and Conservation Action Plans: Asia ... 61 (Equus grevyi).............................................................. 11 STUART D. WILLIAMS Chapter 5. Status and Action Plan for the 2.1 Nomenclature and conservation status ............... 11 Asiatic Wild Ass (Equus hemionus) .............................. 62 2.2 Distribution, population estimates and trends .... 11 C. FEH, N. SHAH, M. ROWEN, R. READING AND S.P. GOYAL 2.3 Ecology, environment and habitat ...................... 14 5.1 Nomenclature and conservation status ............... 62 2.4 Actual and potential threats ................................ 15 5.2 Distribution and population trends .................... 62 2.5 Current legal protection and effectiveness .......... 19 5.3 Captive populations ............................................ 65 2.6 Current conservation measures ........................... 20 5.4 Ecology, natural history and habitat................... 65 2.7 Captive breeding ................................................