How to Draw an Onager

In this quick tutorial you'll learn how to draw an Onager in 8 easy steps - great for kids and novice artists.

The images above represent how your finished drawing is going to look and the steps involved.

Below are the individual steps - you can click on each one for a High Resolution printable PDF version.

At the bottom you can read some interesting facts about the Onager.

Make sure you also check out any of the hundreds of drawing tutorials grouped by category.

How to Draw an Onager - Step-by-Step Tutorial

Step 1: An onager is a wild donkey that lives in Asia. To draw one, start with his head. He has a long, wide nose that is shaped like a tilted 'U'. Add some ears and draw part of his neck, giving him a short, shaggy mane.

Step 2: Add some extra detail to make the inside of his ears. Add a circle for his eye, another circle for his nostril, and a line for the mouth.

Step 3: Draw a long line to the left to create the onager’s back. Draw another line underneath to make part of his chest.

Step 4: To draw the first front leg, draw two lines parallel to one another. An onager’s legs are narrow, and end with a hoof.

Step 5: Draw another leg, slightly smaller this time, behind the first one.

Step 6: Now draw a curvy line for the onager’s belly. He likes to eat lots of grass and leaves! Then draw his back leg, similar to the front legs.

Step 7: Draw the other back leg behind the other back leg.

Step 8: Finally, draw a tail. Onagers have short little tails. You’re done! Onagers are an endangered species, and their lands are being threatened by poaching. They are very spirited creatures, and very shy around humans!

Interesting Facts about Onagers

Onagers are large wild donkeys. They are members of the horse family, native to the west, central, and southern parts of Asia. Their scientific name is Equus hemionus. They live in desert habitats. There used to be five subspecies of onagers, but one became extinct. Two of the subspecies are considered endangered.

Did you know?

  • More than half of the onager population lives in Mongolia.
  • They are about 6.5 feet long and four to five feet tall. They weigh about 550 pounds.
  • They can run as fast as 31 miles per hour.
  • Their coats change colors with the seasons. In the summer they are reddish brown, and in the winter they are light brown.
  • Of all wild donkey species, onagers are the ones that most resemble horses.
  • Females, called mares, give birth to one offspring at a time. The offspring is called a foal. Foals stay with their mothers until they are two years old.
  • Onagers are herbivores (plant eaters). They eat grasses, bark, and herbs.

In ancient times, humans domesticated onagers. They used them for traveling and carrying packages. They were eventually replaced by domesticated horses and donkeys. Nowadays, onagers are considered untamable and are not used for their old purposes. There are onagers that do live in captivity, though.

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