On July 18, 2009, the Sedgwick County Zoo in Wichita, KS, welcomed a baby Poitou donkey. The Poitou, a young female named Vivienne, is the first of her kind born in a zoo in North America.Poitous are categorized as Critical on ALBC's Conservation Priority List, meaning there are fewer than 200 annual registrations for this breed in the US and an estimated global population of less than 2,000.
The Poitou is an ancient French breed. The breed was developed in the Poitou region of western France, where mule breeding has been documented for over one thousand years. The breed nearly became extinct after World War II, when the demand for mules collapsed. The Poitou’s limited geographic area increased its vulnerability. Fewer than 80 Poitous survived in 1980.
Today, the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy works with breeders around the country to help increase the number of Poitous. This breed has a rich history that need not be lost.
Congratulations and thanks to the Sedgwick County Zoo for helping to support rare breeds by breeding them and sharing them with the public.
Click here for more information about the breed.
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