Photo Credits

Minnesota, a Przewalski's horse at the Smithsonian's National Zoo

Minnesota grazes in his yard in 2005. Recently, veterinarians at the Smithsonian's National Zoo performed a successful reverse vasectomy on him-the first procedure of its kind to be performed on an endangered equid species.
Photo Credit: Ann Batdorf/Smithsonian's National Zoo

 

Minnesota is prepared for reverse vasectomy

The National Zoo's veterinary team prepares Minnesota, a Przewalski's horse, for a reverse vasectomy-the first ever performed on an endangered species. The genes of Minnesota are extremely valuable to the captive population of the species. The horse was vasectomized in 1999 at a previous institution so that he could be kept with female horses without reproducing. After Minnesota arrived at the National Zoo in 2005, scientists discovered that he was the seventh most valuable horse in the North American breeding program.
Photo Credit: Suzan Murray/Smithsonian's National Zoo

Minnesota undergoes reverse vasectomy

National Zoo staff and a human urologist perform a reverse vasectomy on Minnesota, a Przewalksi's horse for the second time on Oct. 10, 2007, after the first attempt proved to be unsuccessful. Veterinarians placed Minnesota on his back for this procedure-a delicate task that limited the amount of time for the surgery, but allowed better access to the surgical site. Six months later, the Zoo's veterinarians and reproductive scientists collected a semen sample from the horse that indicated the procedure had been a success.
Photo Credit: Suzan Murray/Smithsonian's National Zoo

 

 

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