Pony Alice Adopts Rare Foal, Inspires Conservation Hope

Quick Smiles:

• Alice, a domestic pony, adopts a rare wild foal after losing her own.
• The Przewalski’s horse foal, Marat, gets a second chance at life.
• Conservation efforts thrive with collaboration and compassion.

In a tale of resilience and unexpected companionship, a rare wild horse foal found a new mother in an unlikely ally—a domestic pony named Alice.

This touching story unfolded in Minnesota, where the foal, belonging to the endangered Przewalski’s horse species, was born on May 17th at a local zoo.

The little one, named Marat, faced a challenging start. Shortly after birth, he fell critically ill and was taken to a veterinary medical center for treatment.

While Marat made a full recovery, the temporary separation led to his biological mother rejecting him—a behavior sometimes seen in wild horses after separation.

Enter Alice, a Pony of the Americas mare residing at a ranch in southeastern Minnesota. Alice had recently lost her own newborn filly.

Her owners, Sylvia and Jeff Passow, thought her nurturing nature and milk supply could help another foal in need.

Within hours of learning about Marat, the Passows brought Alice to the zoo. From their first meeting, Alice embraced Marat as her own, gently nuzzling him and allowing him to nurse.

A representative from the zoo expressed, “This is the kind of story that reminds us of what conservation is all about: collaboration, compassion, and hope.”

Przewalski’s horses, the last truly wild horse species, are genetically distinct from other horses and have never been domesticated.

Declared extinct in the wild by the 1960s, their survival depended on a few individuals kept in zoos.

Through careful breeding and international cooperation, their populations have been reestablished in Mongolia and China.

The zoo has been instrumental in these efforts, welcoming over 50 foals as part of a species survival plan.

In 2024, the zoo played a crucial role in a genetic study aimed at bolstering future conservation efforts.

This year, 150 Przewalski’s horses were transported to Kazakhstan’s Altyn Dala Reserve, with hopes they will thrive and contribute to the ecosystem.

Alice’s adoption of Marat is a testament to the power of compassion and collaboration in conservation efforts.

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