Baby Przewalski horse born at El Paso Zoo

EL PASO, TEXAS -- A new female Przewalski's horse was born at the El Paso Zoo this week.

El Paso Zoo is a front-runner in the conservation efforts of the species, and one day, zoos working to preserve the species want to reintroduce them to their native territory in Russia.

The Przewalski's horse is an endangered species and conservation efforts like shipping the animals to their native territory are being impacted by global events such as the war in Ukraine.

"Because of the war and other things that was no longer possible,” said John Kiseda, animal curator at El Paso Zoo. "So they are going to other American zoos and aquariums but hopefully one day we'll be able to get that going again and we'll be able to see more Przewalski horses out in the field, out in the wild."

Back in the 1960s, the Prague zoo in the Czech Republic took charge on the conservation efforts, and began to breed the animals to return them to the wild.

Now, that mission still stands- even here in El Paso.

"Have animals go to reserve whether its in Mongolia whether its in Russia, but to get more animals in reserve preserve, semi wild with some management and have them start reproducing out in the wild which is where you want all wild animals to be," Kiseda said.

He thinks once global conflicts ease, they can start exploring returning the breed back to the wild.