Vienna, Austria – Vienna Zoo is celebrating an extraordinary arrival: for the first time in its history, onagers, a rare subspecies of the Asian wild ass, are now on display. Two mares have joined the zoo from the Czech Republic and the Netherlands through the European Endangered Species Program, with a third mare and a stallion expected by early November to complete the breeding group.

“These fascinating wild asses are very dear to my heart,” said Zoo Director Dr. Stephan Hering-Hagenbeck. “Onagers are threatened with extinction. Their original range is now limited to a protected area in southern Iran. Competition with farm animals for scarce water has increasingly decimated the wild population.” The last census in 2023 counted fewer than 720 adult animals in the wild.

Vienna Zoo has recreated a steppe landscape reminiscent of the onagers’ natural habitat. Specially compacted soil ensures natural hoof wear, circular runs allow mares to avoid typical stallion herding, and ponds, water troughs, shrubs, and trees provide shade and protection.

“Onagers adapt very well to our climate,” said curator Rupert Kainradl, MSc. “In their native habitat, they endure strong temperature fluctuations. Here, all they need is shelter for rain and cold days.”

These wild donkeys are not only resilient but astonishingly fast. With top speeds around 80 km/h, they are among the fastest equines. Visitors can now watch these rare animals trotting freely through Vienna Zoo for the very first time.

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