Two Przewalski’s horse foals were born in Kazakhstan on August 22 and 30, marking the first births of the species on the country’s grasslands in nearly 200 years. This development is part of a long-term effort to save Przewalski’s horses from extinction and restore Kazakhstan’s damaged grasslands.
Przewalski’s horses, the last truly wild horses, once roamed Central Asia but were decimated by hunting and habitat loss. Survival in European zoos and a breeding program allowed for their reintroduction. The Kazakh government launched the Altyn Dala Conservation Initiative in 2005 to restore 75,000 square kilometers of damaged steppe.
Since 2024, horses have been airlifted to a reintroduction center where they are trained for wild living. Large herbivores like these horses are crucial for healthy grasslands, aiding plant growth and soil health. Conservation officials aim to have 40 horses in Kazakhstan by 2029, with the ultimate goal of a self-sustaining wild population.
Source: Down To Earth