Reintroduction Effort
Once thought extinct in the wild, Przewalski's horses have been reintroduced to the steppes of Kazakhstan after a 200-year absence. The project was carried out by the Prague Zoo in the Czech Republic, which released a group of seven horses in early June 2024.
Background
Przewalski's horses are a critically endangered species, named after Russian geographer Nikolai Przewalski who discovered them in the late 19th century. These chestnut-colored horses once roamed the vast grasslands of Central Asia.
However, hunting and habitat loss due to human activities, as well as harsh winters, pushed the species to near extinction in the 1960s.
Conservation Efforts
The Prague Zoo's reintroduction project aims to restore the horses to their original habitat in the Altyn Dala steppe of Central Kazakhstan. This region, known as the "Golden Steppe," covers over 7,000 square kilometers of grasslands and wetlands.
The zoo plans to release around 40 more horses over the next five years.
Acclimatization Process
The first seven horses were transported by Czech military aircraft from Prague and Berlin to Arkalyk, Kazakhstan, and then driven for seven hours to the steppe. They will be kept in a fenced area for a year to acclimatize to the harsh winter conditions and learn how to find food and water.
Global Impact
Przewalski's horses were last seen in the wild in the late 1960s, but they survived in captivity. Reintroduction efforts have been successful in China and western Mongolia, where around 850 individuals now roam.
In Kazakhstan, the initiative is part of a broader conservation effort, as the horses play a vital role in maintaining biodiversity by grazing and dispersing seeds.