Whipsnade Zoo, just outside London, is celebrating two important new arrivals. A male foal called Luujin and an as yet unnamed female were born to a herd of rare Przewalski’s horses at the zoo this spring.

The births are a boost to the zoo’s international breeding program which backs up the endangered Przewalski’s population in the wild.

Native to Asia, the Przewalski’s horse is untamed – even here at Whipsnade, where it roams unhindered on a large expanse of open grassland. It is officially the only truly wild horse on earth, with two extra chromosomes that differentiate it from a domestic horse. It looks distinctive too, short, slightly stocky light brown in colour and with a short, tufted mane.

Despite ever increasing numbers of Przewalski’s horses in Mongolia and China, there are still challenges ahead as they re-establish themselves in the wild. ZSL has a partner program in Mongolia, helping to protect the species and its native habitat.