Hello, I've observed on numerous occasions the presence of Przewalski Horses on the privately owned Fern Hill Estate at Mulgoa, near Penrith NSW. Does anyone know the history or reasons as to why these horses are there? I've also noted a foal which means they're also breeding to some extent. Thank you in advance.
According to this development proposal thingy from 2012 that I found (http://www.mulgoaprogress.com.au/OwnersPresentationNovember2012.pdf), "previous owners include the Darling family and renowned property developer, Warren Anderson, who established a licensed private zoo housing unusual animals including approximately 20 rare Przewalski horses that remain on the property today". Warren Anderson of course used to own Tipperary Station in the Northern Territory.
one male and eight females were imported to the Pearl Coast Zoo (in Broome) from Marwell Zoo (in the UK) in 1987 and 1988. The zoo closed in 1992 or so, and the horses then were sold to the owners of Tipperary Station (a private cattle ranch) and from there they went to Mulgoa.
So how related are these horses to the rest of the Aust population (are they part of the management program) and does the estate house any other species?
well, all Przewalski's Horses are related but specifically all the individuals in Australia descend from UK imports (mostly Marwell stock). The estate doesn't have any other exotics. They aren't part of the overall zoo population (but there may have been some swaps - I'm not sure). My impression was that most of the ones at Mulgoa are older animals, and (I think!) most of the males are castrated.
