Red River Zoo adds wild horses once extinct in the wild

FARGO — The Red River Zoo has welcomed two rare additions — a pair of Przewalski’s horses, once extinct in the wild and now classified as endangered.

The two male horses are not part of a breeding program, but zoo leaders say their presence still serves a purpose.

“They can act as a genetic safety net,” said Sally Jacobson Mulvena, president and CEO of the Red River Zoo.

Przewalski’s horses, native to the steppes of Mongolia, are known for withstanding extreme climates — from 100 degrees in summer to 40 below in winter — making them well-suited for Fargo.

“They are the last living wild horse species,” Mulvena said, adding that the horses have adjusted well to their new home. “We have a number of endangered or critically endangered animals here at the zoo. And whenever we're looking ove