PROGRAM HELPS WILD HORSES ROAM

INTERNATIONAL efforts have brought these playful horses back from the brink.

Extinct in the wild in the 1960s, zoos across the globe combined to revive Mongolian wild horse numbers.

It makes the birth of Tsagaan the foal, at Werribee Open Range Zoo six weeks ago, all the more special.

Zookeeper Linda Gardiner said Tsagaan’s birth was testament to the work done by endangered species breeding programs.

“There’s been so much effort and dedication around the world in increasing numbers of this horse over the years,” she said.

Mongolian wild horses, also known as Przewalski’s horses, once roamed The Steppes of Central Asia. There are 2000 of the last surviving species of wild horse in the world, but numbers are increasing. As you’d expect for an endangered species, the herd has quickly taken to looking after their youngest member.

“Tsagaan’s got the whole herd looking out for him, so he doesn’t have a trouble in the world,” Ms Gardiner said.

Picture: PAUL RUSHWORTH Werribee Zoo’s newborn Mongolian wild horse foal, Tsagaan, enjoys the company his older half-sister Saikhan.