Endangered wild horses have returned to the Golden Steppe of Kazakhstan for the first time in at least 200 years, following decades-long conservation efforts.

In early June, seven Przewalski’s Horses were airlifted from Europe to Kazakhstan in an operation led by Prague Zoo.

Researchers report that two weeks into their new environment, the horses are thriving, roaming the plains, and even beginning to mate.

Zoo officials say it’s a triumph of generations of conservation work.

“This is an endangered species returning to their ancestral lands, a species which went extinct in the wild in the 1960s, last seen in Mongolia…so it’s just marvellous… a miracle,” said Filip Mašek, a spokesman for Prague Zoo.

This marks a significant milestone for conservationists, as the horses have previously been reintroduced to Mongolia and China but never before to Kazakhstan.

Przewalski’s Horse, the last wild horse species on Earth, was first identified for European science by Russian explorer Nikolai Przewalski. Originating from the Central Asian steppes millennia ago, the species faced extinction due to human competition, environmental changes, and hunting. By 1879, Przewalski’s Horses were confined to a small area in western Mongolia.

Recognising their plight, international efforts post-World War Two aimed to save them. Prague Zoo, tasked with the “international studship” of the breed, played a crucial role in these efforts.

The horses reintroduced to Kazakhstan are descendants of those housed in Munich and Prague zoos. The reintroduction began with one stallion and six mares, with plans to bring at least 40 more horses over the next five years.

“This is an event of historical import,” said the zoo’s director Miroslav Bobek in a statement.

“The seven horses that we transported here by two Czech Army planes represent the first individuals of this species in central Kazakhstan in hundreds of years.”

This project underscores the importance of preserving the one true remaining wild horse species, unlike the American mustang and Australian brumby, which are feral descendants of domesticated horses. Przewalski’s Horses are genetically distinct, shorter, and stockier than modern domesticated horses, with neither species being ancestral to the other.

Prague Zoo has focused on reintroducing Przewalski’s Horses to Central Asia, primarily Mongolia, for the past 15 years. Plans for Kazakhstan were finalised in 2022 after a deal with the local government. The culmination of these efforts saw the horses selected from various European programs and brought together at Tierpark Berlin to acclimatise before their journey.

In early June, military aircraft transported the standing horses in two groups along a 6,000km route with stopovers in Turkey and Azerbaijan. Upon arrival at Arkalyk Airport in Kazakhstan, they endured an eight-hour drive to the Altyn Dala, the Kazakh name for the Golden Steppe, where they were released.

“[The mare named] Tessa was the first to run out of the transport box into the pen, then Wespe, followed by Umbra, and Sary brought the foursome to a close,” Mr Bobek said.

Zoo spokesman Mr. Mašek reported that the horses, initially hesitant, have started exploring further afield.

Scientists were encouraged to observe some horses beginning to mate, indicating a positive adaptation to their new environment.

Released in early summer, the horses have ample time to acclimate before the harsh winter. They will remain in a 60-hectare acclimatization pen for their first year before being released into the broader grasslands.

Prague Zoo hopes to replicate the success of its Mongolia program from the previous decade, where the introduction of 34 horses contributed to a population now exceeding 850.

Researchers are optimistic, despite human activity not being the sole cause of the horse’s extinction, noting that hunting and breeding with domesticated horses hastened their disappearance.

Mr. Mašek emphasised that this reintroduction represents the ultimate goal of a modern zoo: to restore endangered species to their natural habitats and help them thrive once again.

“We are still responsible the fact this wild horse disappeared and now we can sort of reverse that, and give it back to nature.”

He described it as the ultimate goal of a modern zoo: “To sort of be these Noah’s Arks which have all these endangered species.

“If it’s possible- and sometimes it’s not – we should try and do everything to return them to their original environments.”

 

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