The first expert synthesis of the diverse studies conducted on wild equids worldwide.
Wild horses, zebras, asses, and feral equines exhibit intriguing and complex social structures that captivate the human imagination and elicit a wide range of emotions that influence conservation and management efforts. This book, spearheaded by Jason I. Ransom and Petra Kaczensky, brings together the world''s leading experts on equid ecology, management, and conservation to provide a synthesis of what is known about these iconic species and what needs to be done to prevent losing some of them altogether.
The most comprehensive conservation book on wild equids in decades, this title will enlighten not only equid researchers, but also mammalogists, conservationists, and equine professionals. Readers will find new insight into the lives of the world''s horses, zebras, and asses, understand the basis of our relationships with these animals, and develop a greater understanding of where equids come from and why they are worth conserving.
Included in this book are detailed, state-of-the-science syntheses on
Social structure, behavior, and cognition
Habitat and diet
Ecological niches
Population dynamics
Roles of humans in horse distribution through time
Human dimensions and the meaning of wild
Management of free-roaming horses
Captive breeding of wild equids
Conservation of wild equids
Conservation of migrations
Reintroductions
Genetics and paleogenetics
The editors of this book have done a masterful job assembling a comprehensive review of scientific research on equid behavior. This is essential reading for wildlife biologists, conservation specialists, and policymakers in equid management. The chapters, including one on the meaning of wild, display a tremendous range of knowledge.
—Temple Grandin, author of Animals in Translation and Genetics and the Behavior of Domestic Animals
Equids and humans share thousands of years of common and very special history. Today, however, 5 out of 7 species are assessed as threatened with extinction and yet basics of behaviour and ecology of wild species remain unknown. It was, therefore, high time for this compilation of cutting-edge science with a focus on ecology, management and conservation.
—Gerald Dick, PhD, MAS, Executive Director, World Association of Zoos and Aquariums
Finally, a book that synthesizes a vast array of information on horses, zebras and asses. Ransom and Kaczensky have brought the experts together to pool their knowledge and summarize what we know about the phylogeny, social behavior, ecology, and conservation needs of these species. This book is critical step in recovering populations, species, and the ecological function they provide, of this important Family of ungulates.
—Joshua R. Ginsberg, PhD, President Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies and formerly Senior Vice President, Wildlife Conservation Society Global Program.
A world-class roster of authors provides a comprehensive treatment of diverse subject matter that is deep, thorough, and yet extremely accessible to diverse audiences. In an era when humankind’s actions are the major drivers of environmental change, the creation and sharing of the new knowledge presented in this volume will be essential to any chance we have of ensuring that wild equids will persist in nature for future generations to come.
—Steve Monfort, DVM, PhD, Director, John & Adrienne Mars at Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, National Zoological Park
People have interacted with equids for thousands of years, and domesticated horses and donkeys are very familiar parts of our lives. Yet most of the original wild equid species are highly threatened or even extinct. Wild Equids is the most comprehensive summary of all that we know about these remarkable animals: wild asses, wild horses and zebras. Anyone who has a serious interest in these species needs to start with this book.
—Simon N. Stuart, PhD, Chair of the IUCN Species Survival Comission
Horses, in one form or another, have been roaming our planet at will for at least 56 million years, but today many of the free-roaming populations are in danger of disappearing. Now for the first time ever we have, in Ransom and Kaczensky''s much-needed Wild Equids, a comprehensive assessment of the world''s wild equines, including feral horses, zebras, asses, onagers and Przewalski''s horses. Horses deserve a better deal – a deal that needs to be based on science – and this volume, years in the making, is an important step in making that happen.
—Wendy Williams, author of The Horse: The Epic History of Our Noble Companion
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