Four more Przewalski’s horses have been brought to Kazakhstan. The
animals were transported from Berlin’s Tierpark to the Kostanai region on a
special flight. After a 13-hour journey, the horses were transferred to
specialized transport vehicles for the next stage of their journey. Their
destination is the Altyn Dala State Nature Reserve, where fully formed groups
have now been established to create a population of Przewalski’s horses in Kazakhstan. Following an
adaptation period, the animals will be released into the wild.
«The animals are doing very well and are
beginning to adapt to their new environment and enclosure, exploring the area
and approaching watering sites. They are in good condition. The previous groups
came through the winter well, including severe frosts and snowstorms, and
adapted successfully. We believe the newly arrived horses will also adapt well
to their new habitat,» noted Kanat Batyrkhanuly, Specialist at the Association for the Conservation
of Biodiversity of Kazakhstan.
«Przewalski’s horse has evolved over thousands of years to become highly adapted to the natural conditions of Central Asia. Here, in the steppe, the horses can find plenty of vegetation to feed on. By returning to their native steppes, they are truly being reintroduced to their natural habitat,» Prague Zoo Director Lenka Poliaková said.
Notably, a large-scale program to reintroduce Przewalski’s horses and restore
the historic steppe ecosystem was launched in 2023. The first two groups of
animals arrived a year later. In total, 40 Przewalski’s horses are expected to
be reintroduced to Kazakhstan by 2029.
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