Parc Omega currently houses three male Przewalski’s horses as part of the Species Survival Plan (SSP) of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). This program aims to maintain a genetically healthy and sustainable population in captivity, while supporting conservation and reintroduction efforts in the wild.

Przewalski’s horse(Equus ferus przewalskii) is considered the world’s last true wild horse. Once found throughout the steppes of Central Asia, it disappeared from its natural habitat during the 20th century. Its disappearance is linked to a number of factors, including over-hunting, competition with domestic livestock for resources, and habitat degradation.

These pressures led to the extinction of the species in the wild in the 1960s. Fortunately, thanks to captive breeding programs, the species has been preserved from a small number of individuals. Coordinated efforts have led to the reintroduction of populations in certain protected areas in Mongolia, China and, more recently, Kazakhstan.

Even today, Przewalski’s horse is classified as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and its survival depends largely on ex situ conservation programs, i.e. breeding and protecting the species outside its natural environment, in specialized zoos and centers.

In the coming years, Parc Oméga aims to support the SSP’s breeding objectives, in particular by welcoming a compatible female to promote reproduction and actively contribute to the genetic diversity of the captive population.