Habitat:
Harsh semi-arid desert with hot days and cool nights
Diet:
Wild:Mainly grasses. In the dry season, they break woody plants with their hooves for succulent portions and seed pods. They also may dig up to 2 feet deep for water
Zoo:˝ pound herbivore pellet and 1/3 bale of hay
Gestation:
11 months
Litter:
one
Life Span:
Insufficient data
Description:
Weight is 440-575 pounds, height is approximately 50” at the shoulder. Legs and belly are usually light beige or tan with darker markings on the neck and sides. There is a dark brown stripe along the back. They have a short (2”-3”) mane, and have tails with a small tuft of hair at the end.
Did You Know?
Persian onagers are extremely rare. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species lists them as endangered.
There are only about 600 in the wild and 26 in North American zoos.
Onagers can withstand temperature extremes from 120° to bitter cold.
The ancient Roman catapult was called “the onager” because the recoil kicked upward with such force, much like the onager.
The onager is thought to be the world’s fastest wild equid.
Where in the Zoo?
I can be found in the Tufted Deer Yard at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo.
