Description

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