[1/5] An African Somali wild foal, which was born in captivity, is shown in its enclosure for the first time to the public, as part of a conservation project of this animal in danger of extinction, at the Buin zoo, Santiago, Chile July 6, 2023. REUTERS/Ivan AlvaradoSANTIAGO, July 6 (Reuters) - A rare Somali Wild Ass foal was born in a Chilean zoo, sparking hope for a critically endangered species with less than 200 mature individuals left worldwide. The Buin Zoo in the southern outskirts of Santiago is taking part in an international effort to help restore the Somali Wild Ass population that the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has classified as critically endangered. The remaining Somali Wild Ass population, according to the IUCN, is left in Eritrea and Ethiopia with the largest recorded subpopulation being just 17 individuals. "The bones are used in soups that supposedly have medicinal characteristics that hasn't been scientifically proven, but it's practically brought on the extinction of a beautiful species," Idalsoaga said.

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Persons: Ivan Alvarado SANTIAGO, We're, Ignacio Idalsoaga, Idalsoaga, it's, Alexander Villegas, David Gregorio Our Organizations: REUTERS, Buin Zoo, International Union for Conservation of Nature, IUCN, Reuters, Thomson Locations: African Somali, Buin, Santiago, Chile, Chilean, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia, Ita