Last Wild Horse Dies on Bahamas' Great Abaco Island

The last wild horse on Great Abaco Island in the Bahamas has died, marking the end of an era for the island's unique equine population. This tragic event has prompted caretakers to explore cloning as a means to revive the herd. The Wild Horses of Abaco Preservation Society, led by Milanne Rehor, is spearheading these efforts.

The last mare, known as Nunki, passed away recently. Tissue samples have been collected and sent to a cloning company in Austin, Texas, in hopes of bringing back a viable population. Rehor, who has dedicated over two decades to preserving these horses, remains optimistic about the possibility of reviving the herd.

The History of Abaco's Wild Horses

Originally imported from Cuba in the late 1800s by a logging company, the horses were set free in the 1940s and went feral. At their peak, around 200 wild horses roamed the island. However, their numbers dwindled due to various challenges, including human intervention and environmental factors.

Efforts to preserve the horses saw some success in the mid-1990s, with the herd growing to about 35 animals. Unfortunately, the remaining horses faced health issues due to poisonous plants and chemicals, leading to their inability to reproduce.

Cloning: A Hopeful Future

Rehor, who resides on a boat in Abaco, expressed her sorrow at losing Nunki, a "wonderful companion." She hopes that Nunki's cells can be used to breed a foal with DNA from a living stallion. While Ernest Cothran from Texas A&M University acknowledges the challenges of cloning, he does not rule out its success.

For more information, visit the original article by the Associated Press.