Know U.S. Zoo Cheers as Rare Horse Foal Makes a Comeback from Extinction Conservationists at the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance are celebrating the arrival of a new addition 

Conservationists at the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance are celebrating the arrival of a new addition 

The birth of this critically endangered species of wild horse is a major event, as the species was classified as Extinct in the Wild until 1996. 

This is the first Przewalski’s horse to be born at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park since 2014 and one of only four born in North America over the past year.

Kristi Burtis, the wildlife care director at the Safari Park, expressed her excitement and elation over the birth of the foal.  

With over 157 Przewalski’s horses born at the Zoo and Safari Park, Burtis emphasized the significance of each individual birth 

The new foal was born as part of a breeding program overseen by conservationists across the country through the Przewalski’s horse Species Survival Plan. 

This program ensures genetic diversity is maintained within the Przewalski’s horse populations. Despite being extinct in the wild for the past 40 years 

the species has survived mainly in zoos around the world, and the majority of surviving horses are related to only 12 individuals born in their native habitats.