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

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National Zoo veterinarians 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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