Incredibly Rare Foal Born At Chester Zoo Is The “World’s Rarest Equid”

A brand new onager foal has just been welcomed into the world at Chester Zoo in Cheshire, England. This adorable little guy, named Jasper, is reportedly very playful. He has no idea that he’s “one of the rarest animals on earth,” according to the BBC. There are less than 600 of these creatures left!

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If you’re wondering what an onager is, and why this foal’s birth is so significant, you’re not alone. These creatures aren’t exactly on everyone’s radar! The BBC tells us that these four-legged animals are related to donkeys. Because their numbers have dwindled so dramatically, wild onagers can only be found in a couple of protected places in Iran.

Chester Zoo’s animal and plant director, Mike Jordan, said that the onager foal is “doing very well” and has a wonderful relationship with his mother, Azita.

“He’s full of energy and enjoys playfully kicking up sand as he races around his habitat,” he said.

Mike added that situation is pretty dire for onagers outside the zoo.

“With numbers having declined so rapidly in the wild, and the species now teetering on the edge of existence in Iran, it’s sadly very possible that onagers could become extinct in the wild within our lifetime,” he said.

Deeside.com shared some sweet footage of the little onager foal running, playing, and nuzzling with with his mother. They’re calling Jasper the “world’s rarest equid.”

“Onagers are a hoofed mammal, from the family equidae, which includes horses, donkeys, mules and zebras,” the news outlet wrote on social media.

It’s no accident that this onager foal was born at Chester Zoo. Apparently, conservationists in the area have been working hard to ensure this species doesn’t die out. Jasper’s arrival marked a huge success in their efforts! Wildlife experts are hoping that this event will bring more attention to the plight of the onager.

You can find the source of this story’s featured image here.