San Diego Zoo's Safari Park has announced the recent birth of a young Przewalski's horse, an endangered species believed to be extinct in the wild until 1996.

 

A press release issued by the San Diego Wildlife Alliance stated that the horse, whose name has not yet been revealed, came into the world this month through mother Nikki and father Ziggy.

 

The equine parents were selected based on the recommendations of the Przewalski's Horse Species Survival Plan by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, a program supervised by conservationists in the United States with the aim of ensuring healthy and genetically diverse populations.

 

According to the Wildlife Alliance, an international nonprofit organization focused on conservation, Przewalski's horse, sometimes known as "the last wild horse," has managed to survive mainly in zoos worldwide for nearly 40 years.

 

 

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Przewalski's horses have formed several herds in the grasslands of China and Mongolia thanks to reintroduction efforts in their natural habitat.

 

This species has a robust and compact appearance, with a thick, short brown coat. They are social animals that live in hierarchical herds led by a dominant male.

 

They are adapted to survive in extreme climates and primarily feed on grass. They have been endangered, but conservation efforts have been made to reintroduce and increase their population.

 

Moreover, they hold cultural and historical significance in Mongolian culture and are considered the direct ancestors of domesticated horses.