IUCN SSC Equid Specialist Group 2016-2017 Report Patricia D. Moehlman Sarah R. B. King Co-Chairs Mission statement Capacity building Patricia D. Moehlman (1) The mission of the IUCN/SSC Equid Specialist L Research activities Sarah R. B. King (2) Group (ESG) is to conserve biological diversity i. An Ethiopian and an Eritrean national are by developing and executing programs to study, enrolled and doing research for their PhD’s on Red List Authority Coordinator save, restore, and manage wisely wild equids African wild ass distribution, population viability Sarah R B King (2) and their habitats. Our greatest challenge is to and habitat utilization. (KSR #39) improve wild equid conservation status, to ii. An Eritrean national completed his MSc on Location/Affiliation sustain their ecosystems and to enhance the African wild ass distribution and genetics and (1) EcoHealth Alliance, New York, NY, US; livelihoods of local communities. currently is Director of Wildlife in the Forestry Columbia University, Adjunct Senior Research and Wildlife Authority, Eritrea. (KSR #32) Main activities by Key Priority Area Scientist, EICES, NY, NY, US; TAWIRI, Arusha, Communications Tanzania (2016 & 2017) L Research activities (2) NREL, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Barometer of life i. An edited book Wild Equids: Ecology, CO, US L Red List Management and Conservation (Johns Hopkins i. All Red List assessments are up to date with University Press) was published. Equid Number of members the exception of the Mountain zebra. This will Specialist Group members contributed to 60 be completed in 2018. (KSR #32) almost all chapters. (KSR #43) Bolster work at national scales Conservation action Social networks L Conservation activities L Capacity building Website: i. The Ethiopian National Action Plan for Wild i. The Ethiopian National Action Plan for Wild www.equids.org Equids (African wild ass, Grevy’s zebra, Plains Equids (African wild ass, Grevy’s zebra, Plains zebra) was completed and approved and zebra) was completed and approved and implementation has started. (KSR #15) implementation has started. (KSR #18) ii. We assisted with production of the Road Map L Communication for the Conservation of African wild ass Equus i. Road Map for the Conservation of African wild africanus 2017-2027. CMS Technical Series ass Equus africanus 2017-2027. CMS Technical Publication No.34 (KSR #15) Series Publication No.34. (KSR #28) L Proposal development and funding i. Proposals were developed for listing the African wild ass as Appendix I and were submitted and approved at the CMS COP 12. ii. Proposals were developed for the conserva- tion of African wild ass in Ethiopia and Eritrea and submitted for funding to the IUCN Save our Species Fund. Przewalski’s Horse (Equus ferus), Endangered Photo: S.R.B. King Female and foal of Grevy’s zebra (Equus grevyi), Endangered Photo: Patricia D. Moehlman Increasing diversity of SSC Communications L Membership Scientific meetings: convene an International i. Members from 26 countries and composed Conference on Wild Equids in 2019. of 22 women and 38 men. Conservation action Policy Conservation activities: (1) demarcate an L Agreements African wild ass protected area in Eritrea; (2) i. Proposal to list the African wild ass on Con- Implementation of the Ethiopian national action plan for three wild equids; (3) continue working vention for Conservation of Migratory Species Plains zebra (Equus quagga), Near Threatened. with all SG members towards conservation of (CMS) Appendix I approved at COP12. (KSR #29) Photo: Patricia D. Moehlman wild equids. L Technical advice Technical advice: CMS road map for African wild i. Proposal to list the African wild ass on CMS ass conservation. Appendix I approved at COP12. (KSR #18) Policy Acknowledgements Policy advice: (1) African wild ass listed as CMS Appendix 1; (2) Przewalski’s horse listed as CMS We thank the following donors that have provid- Appendix 1. ed funding for operations, research, training and Summary of activities (2016-2017) conservation action: EcoHealth Alliance, Basel Projected impact for the quadrennium Zoo, IUCN/SSC Species Conservation Planning Key Priority Area ratio: 7/7 2017-2020 Sub-Committee, Knowsley Zoo, Plock Zoo, Sea- Key Priority Areas addressed: world Busch Gardens Conservation Fund and By the end of 2020, we hope that the conser- • Barometer of life (1 activity) Little Rock Zoo. We thank Dr David Mallon for fa- vation status of the African wild ass (CR) is im- • Bolster work at national scales (2 activities) cilitating the Ethiopia National Wild Equid Action proved by capacity building in the two main • Capacity building (2 activities) Plan workshop. We thank the Ethiopian Wildlife range states, i.e. Ethiopia and Eritrea and the Conservation Authority for hosting and organiz- establishment of a protected area in Eritrea. • Communications (1 activity) ing the Ethiopia National Wild Equid Action Plan The CMS road map for the Conservation of the • Conservation action (4 activities) workshop. African wild ass has been completed and the • Increasing diversity of SSC (1 activity) species is listed on Appendix I of CMS. Przew- • Policy (2 activities) Targets for the quadrennium 2017-2020 alski’s horse (EN) populations are expected to Main KSRs addressed: 5, 18, 28, 29, 32, 39, 43 increase in Mongolia, and further reintroduction Barometer of life KSR: Key Species Result sites may become necessary; a national Action Red List: complete Red List assessments of all Plan for the species will be developed. Equid seven wild equid species. species in Africa are at threat from catastroph- Bolster work at national scales ic droughts (Grevy’s zebra (EN), mountain zebra Capacity building: conduct scout training (VU), and plains zebra (NT). Conservation ef- courses in Ethiopia and Eritrea. forts in range states will aim to ameliorate these effects. In Asia, conservation efforts of Asiat- Capacity building ic wild ass (NT) and kiang (LC) will continue, so Capacity building: (1) Eritrean national to obtain we do not expect to see a decline in population PhD on African wild ass; (2) Ethiopian national to numbers. obtain PhD on African wild ass..