Przewalski's Horse

Przewalski's Horse (Equus przewalskii or E. caballus przewalskii), pronounced "(p)she-VAHL-skeez horse", also known as the Mongolian Wild Horse, or Takhi, is the closest living relative of the Domestic Horse and may in fact be the same species. Authorities differ about the correct classification. The two are the only equids that can cross-breed and produce fertile offspring.

History

The horse is named after Russian General Nikolaï Mikhaïlovitch Prjevalski (1839–1888) who was also an explorer and naturalist. (The spelling "Przewalski" is actually Polish.) He described the horse in 1881, after having gone on an expedition to find it, based on rumours of its existence. Many horses were captured around 1900 and placed in zoos. Of these, about twelve to fifteen bred and formed today's population.

Related Topics:
Nikolaï Mikhaïlovitch Prjevalski - Polish - 1881 - 1900

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The population declined in the 20th century due to a combination of factors, and the wild population in Mongolia died out in the 1960s. The last herd was sighted in 1967 and the last individual horse in 1969. Expeditions after this failed to find any.

Related Topics:
20th century - Mongolia - 1967 - 1969

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In 1977 the 'Foundation for the Preservation and Protection of the Przewalski Horse' was founded, which started a program of exchange between the captive populations to reduce inbreeding, and later starting a breeding program of its own. In 1992, the Foundation released sixteen horses into the wild in Mongolia, followed by further batches later on. The reintroduced horses have been breeding successfully.

Related Topics:
1977 - Inbreeding - 1992

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The area to which they were reintroduced became Hustai National Park in 1998.

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There are reports of one or more herds introduced to the Ukraine in the area evacuated after the Chernobyl accident, which now serves as a deserted de facto natural preserve.

Related Topics:
Ukraine - Chernobyl accident - De facto

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Three of these horses now graze in a 12 acre (49,000 m²) paddock in the Clocaenog Forest in North Wales, UK, on the site of a former Neolithic or Iron Age settlement. They were introduced there in 2004. The Forestry Commission hopes they will help recreate scenes from the Iron Age when these horses roamed Britain freely.

Related Topics:
Clocaenog Forest - North Wales - UK - Neolithic - Iron Age - 2004 - Forestry Commission

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