A rare Somali wild donkey has been born at a zoo in Chile, raising hopes for a species threatened with extinction, as there are fewer than 200 adult donkeys left in the world. The Buin Zoo, located in the southern suburbs of Santiago, is participating in an international effort to increase the population of the Somali wild donkey, which is classified as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
Ignacio Edalme, the founder and director of Buin Zoo, stated, "We are really happy to announce the news in these difficult times for the conservation of many species." He added, "It's great news for the conservation of a wild donkey that is disappearing from the earth, and we have the ability to breed it here, at the edge of the world, in Chile."
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the remaining Somali wild donkeys are found in Eritrea and Ethiopia, with the largest recorded group consisting of only 17 donkeys. Their numbers have declined by 95% over the past 35 years in Ethiopia, and it is unknown if any remain in Somalia. The significant decrease in their population is attributed to habitat loss and hunting for food or medicinal purposes.
Edalme mentioned, "Bones are used to make a soup that is believed to have medicinal properties, although this has not been scientifically proven, but it has practically led to the threat of extinction for this beautiful species." The zoo witnessed the birth of two wild donkeys in 2021, named "Lucretia" and "Ita," and has not yet named the new baby that was born just a few weeks ago.
