Edinburgh Zoo welcomes new endangered species from Highland Wildlife Park

Three male Przewalski’s horses have safely arrived at the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland’s (RZSS) Edinburgh Zoo yesterday, Friday 27 August.

The wildlife conservation charity has a successful history with the endangered species at Highland Wildlife Park, near Aviemore, where the small bachelor herd have travelled from.

This is the first time zoo visitors will be able to see Przewalski’s horses in the capital and learn how they were brought back after becoming extinct in the wild in the 1960s.

Jonathan Appleyard, hoofstock team leader at Edinburgh Zoo, said, “After arriving yesterday, our three new boys, Och, Tomor and Kumbish, are settling in to their new home which is just beside our giraffes on the hilltop.

“It is really exciting to introduce our visitors to this amazing species and share the incredible story of Przewalski’s horses being brought back from extinction in the wild following the success of rewilding and reintroduction projects in their native Mongolia.

“This huge feat is directly attributable to the efforts of the zoo community and shows just how important a carefully managed captive population can be for safeguarding threatened wildlife around the world.”

Visitors hoping to spot Och, Tomor and Kumbish in their new home can find out more about visiting the zoo and booking tickets at edinburghzoo.org.uk/we-are-open