A rare and endangered Przewalski’s horse foal named Marat was born at the Minnesota Zoo nearly two months ago but became seriously ill soon after birth. The foal had leg problems that made it hard to stand and walk. Because of this, he developed bacterial sepsis and needed emergency treatment. Experts at the University of Minnesota’s equine care unit provided medical support to help him recover. After he returned to the zoo, his biological mother rejected him, which is common among first-time mothers. With fewer than 2,000 Przewalski’s horses left in the world, every new foal is important for the preservation of the species. This kind of horse is known as the world’s only truly wild horse and is now mainly found in Mongolia, China, and parts of Europe.

To solve the situation, zoo staff introduced a domestic horse named Alice, who had just lost her own foal. Alice quickly accepted Marat and began to care for him like her own. A zoo veterinarian said that this kind of cross-species surrogacy is very rare, especially for wild horses. Alice is now teaching Marat how to act like a horse, which will help him later when he joins the zoo’s adult herd. One staff member said Marat already shows a strong personality and tries to be assertive and dominant, which are signs of his wild nature. The zoo team described the bonding as a remarkable success and a heartwarming example of animal care. The case also shows the importance of intervention in helping endangered animals survive.