Turkmenian kulan | |
---|---|
A Turkmenian kulan at Wildpark Pforzheim. | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | Perissodactyla |
Family: | Equidae |
Genus: | Equus |
Species: | |
Subspecies: | E. h. kulan
|
Trinomial name | |
Equus hemionus kulan | |
Synonyms | |
Equus hemionus finschi |
The Turkmenian kulan (Equus hemionus kulan), also called Transcaspian wild ass,[3] Turkmenistani onager or simply the kulan, is a subspecies of onager (Asiatic wild ass) native to Central Asia. It was declared Endangered in 2016.[1]
The species's population had recently been in decline in the country while it slowly increases in reintroduction sites. The Turkmenian kulan has been reintroduced to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, as well as Israel, where the subspecies are hybridizing with Persian onagers in the wild.
Previously in 2005, the population was estimated at 1,295-1,345 in Turkmenistan. No other data existed on the condition of the Turkmenistan populations, but hope remained that small groups of animals still resided in inaccessible areas around Badkhyz, and were thriving in the West Kopetdagh (Sumbar-Chandyr Valley) and Ustyurt Plateau around Lake Sarakamish.[4] However, certain fragmented populations of Transcaspian wild ass are currently on the rise to even more than 2,000 individuals in the wild.[5] It is also estimated that over 6,000 kulans live in Central Asia.[6] In 2017, there are 3,900 kulans in total roaming in Kazakhstan, of which the largest Kazakh population (3,400) reside in Altyn-Emel National Park.[7]
WWFKulan
was invoked but never defined (see the help page).kazakhkulan
was invoked but never defined (see the help page).kulannumbers
was invoked but never defined (see the help page).