Critically Endangered Species of Horse Born at San Diego Zoo: 'A Tremendous Moment'

The San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance (SDZWA) announced on Friday that a critically endangered Przewalksi's horse foal was born at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park.

According to a release from the nonprofit, the colt is the first of its kind to be born at the Safari Park since 2014 — and one of the few born in North America in the past year. The unnamed female foal was born on Christmas Day, according to NBC 7.

"Every birth is a tremendous moment, so we are elated by this new foal," Kristi Burtis, wildlife care director at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, said. "We've had more than 157 Przewalski's horses born at the Zoo and the Safari Park."

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Now considered to be a critically endangered species of wild horse, the Przewalski's horse — sometimes called "the Last Wild Horse" — was previously declared extinct until 1996.

The species has survived for the last 40 years almost exclusively in zoos all over the world, with nearly all living horses related to the 12 Przewalski's horses born in their native habitats. Scientists, though, urge that there needs to be more work done to ensure the future survival of the Przewalski's horse, per the release.

SAN DIEGO (Jan. 27, 2023) – Conservationists at the nonprofit San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance have announced the birth of a Przewalski’s horse —a critically endangered species of wild horse that was categorized as Extinct in the Wild until 1996. The foal is the first Przewalski’s horse born at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park since 2014, and is one of only four individuals born in North America over the past year “Every birth is a tremendous moment, so we are elated by this new foal,” said Kristi Burtis, wildlife care director at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. “We’ve had more than 157 Przewalski’s horses born at the Zoo and the Safari Park. They are an important wild horse species, and this new foal, along with each individual that was born at our parks, bolsters their fragile population—and represents our deep commitment to conserving them for future generations.” The youngster was born as part of a breeding recommendation through AZA’s Przewalski’s horse Species Survival Plan®—a program that ensures genetic diversity is represented among Przewalski’s horse populations, overseen by conservationists nationwide. Formerly extinct in the wild, the Przewalski’s horse has survived for the past 40 years almost entirely in zoos around the world, and nearly all of the surviving horses are related to 12 Przewalski’s horses born in native habitats. Ongoing reintroductions of Przewalski’s horses into their native habitats have established several herds in grasslands in China and Mongolia to maintain genetic variation, however scientists believe more work needs to be done to ensure the species’ future survival. In the past few years, scientists have started using new tools, such as San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance’s Biodiversity Bank, to expand the strength of the species’ population. Through a collaborative effort, science teams from the nonprofit Revive & Restore, the animal cloning company ViaGen Pets & Equine, and San Diego Zoo

Ken Bohn/San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance

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"They are an important wild horse species, and this new foal, along with each individual that was born at our parks, bolsters their fragile population — and represents our deep commitment to conserving them for future generations," Burtis said per the release.

The foal was born as part of a breeding recommendation through AZA's Przewalski's horse Species Survival Plan, which is a program supervised by conservationists all over the country that "ensures genetic diversity is represented among Przewalski's horse populations," the release states.

In 2020, the joint efforts of SDZWA's Biodiversity Bank, the animal cloning company ViaGen Pets & Equine and nonprofit Revive & Restore resulted in the first successfully cloned Przewalski's horse, according to the release.

Meet Kurt the cloned Przewalski’s horse. All endangered Przewalski’s horses that have been born through current breeding programs are descended from just 12 individuals, leaving the last of the truly wild horses at serious risk for inbreeding. pic.twitter.com/nE7L8jtpbf

— San Diego Zoo Safari Park (@sdzsafaripark) December 2, 2020

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Born to a surrogate domestic quarter female horse, Kurt is the clone of a male Przewalski's horse whose cells were cryopreserved 43 years ago in the Frozen Zoo of SDZWA's Biodiversity Bank.

SAN DIEGO (Jan. 27, 2023) – Conservationists at the nonprofit San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance have announced the birth of a Przewalski’s horse —a critically endangered species of wild horse that was categorized as Extinct in the Wild until 1996. The foal is the first Przewalski’s horse born at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park since 2014, and is one of only four individuals born in North America over the past year “Every birth is a tremendous moment, so we are elated by this new foal,” said Kristi Burtis, wildlife care director at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. “We’ve had more than 157 Przewalski’s horses born at the Zoo and the Safari Park. They are an important wild horse species, and this new foal, along with each individual that was born at our parks, bolsters their fragile population—and represents our deep commitment to conserving them for future generations.” The youngster was born as part of a breeding recommendation through AZA’s Przewalski’s horse Species Survival Plan®—a program that ensures genetic diversity is represented among Przewalski’s horse populations, overseen by conservationists nationwide. Formerly extinct in the wild, the Przewalski’s horse has survived for the past 40 years almost entirely in zoos around the world, and nearly all of the surviving horses are related to 12 Przewalski’s horses born in native habitats. Ongoing reintroductions of Przewalski’s horses into their native habitats have established several herds in grasslands in China and Mongolia to maintain genetic variation, however scientists believe more work needs to be done to ensure the species’ future survival. In the past few years, scientists have started using new tools, such as San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance’s Biodiversity Bank, to expand the strength of the species’ population. Through a collaborative effort, science teams from the nonprofit Revive & Restore, the animal cloning company ViaGen Pets & Equine, and San Diego Zoo

Ken Bohn/San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance

"Kurt is significant to his species because he offers the hope of bringing back lost genetic diversity to the population," Nadine Lamberski, SDZWA's chief conservation and wildlife health officer said in the release. "It is imperative to do everything we can to save this genetic diversity before it disappears."

Per the release, San Diego Zoo Safari Park-goers can pay the foal and the rest of her herd a visit at the Przewalski's horse habitat, which is next door to the Central Asian savanna habitat where Kurt resides.