Persian Onager Population Up a Notch

The birth of a female Persian onager on Saturday at Panj Angosht preservation site in Abarkouh County, Yazd Province, increased the number of the rare mammal to 18 individuals in the site, head of the regional Department of Environment said. 
"Counting the newly born foal and the ones expected by early summer, the number of births in the site will reach nine," Hasan Teymouri was quoted as saying by IRNA. 
There are currently 18 Persian onagers kept at the camp, "which will hopefully go up if enough food stuff is supplied for the animal and the climatic condition is favorable, for the mammal is naturally able to breed once a year," Teymouri said.
Onagers' gestation period is about 12 months and the foals often mature after 48 months.