Marat, a critically endangered Przewalski’s horse foal born at the Minnesota Zoo, faced a dire start due to limb problems and bacterial sepsis that left him very ill. After intensive care at the University of Minnesota’s equine unit, Marat’s mother rejected him, a common occurrence with first-time wild horse mothers. The zoo staff found an unexpected solution when Alice, a domestic Pony of the Americas who had recently lost her own foal, accepted Marat as her own, providing the nurturing he needed to thrive.

Przewalski’s horses are the only remaining truly wild horse species, with fewer than 2,000 individuals left worldwide, making each foal vital to the species’ survival. Marat’s caregivers are now focused on integrating him into the wild herd’s social structure, with Alice helping him learn appropriate behaviors. Despite his challenges, Marat is showing a strong, dominant personality typical of his wild heritage, and the zoo hopes to introduce him to the adult Przewalski’s herd before he grows too old.