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Year of the Horse: Zoo highlights endangered species
6 Feb
Summary
- Taiwan's zoo spotlights Przewalski's horse for Lunar New Year.
- This endangered species was once extinct in the wild.
- The horses have been reintroduced in China, Kazakhstan, and Mongolia.
As the Year of the Horse begins, Taiwan's premier zoo is focusing on the conservation of Przewalski's horse, an endangered species native to central Asia. The zoo houses four of these unique animals, once extinct in the wild. Zookeepers aim to use the festive period to educate visitors about the horse's history and its recovery.
Przewalski's horses, distinct from their domesticated relatives and too wild to ride, vanished from the wild by the late 1960s. However, captive populations allowed for reintroduction efforts. These reintroductions have been successful in China, Kazakhstan, and western Mongolia, contributing to a current regional population of 850 individuals. The Taipei Zoo collaborates with Prague Zoo to support global breeding and protection campaigns for this species.
