Wildlife & Biodiversity

Takhi: Przewalski’s horses back on the Kazakh steppe

The planet’s only true wild horse is being ‘rewilded’ in Central Asia, where it roamed once
The Przewalski’s Horse (pronounced Shuvalski) or ‘Takhi’ in Mongolian, the world’s only true wild horse, is back on the Kazakh Steppe, the Kazakhstan section of the Eurasian Steppe, the great band of grassland that stretches from Hungary in Europe to Manchuria in East Asia. This photo shows a Takhi being released.
The Przewalski’s Horse (pronounced Shuvalski) or ‘Takhi’ in Mongolian, the world’s only true wild horse, is back on the Kazakh Steppe, the Kazakhstan section of the Eurasian Steppe, the great band of grassland that stretches from Hungary in Europe to Manchuria in East Asia. This photo shows a Takhi being released. Credit: Miroslav Bobek / Prague Zoo
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The horses — four mares from Berlin Zoo and a stallion and two other mares from Prague Zoo — were flown to Kazakhstan on a Czech Air Force plane. The development is part of a project by the two zoos to ‘rewild’ the species in the place it was once native to. Another photo of a Takhi being released.
The horses — four mares from Berlin Zoo and a stallion and two other mares from Prague Zoo — were flown to Kazakhstan on a Czech Air Force plane. The development is part of a project by the two zoos to ‘rewild’ the species in the place it was once native to. Another photo of a Takhi being released. Photo by Vaclav Shilha/ Prague Zoo
The horse (Equus caballus) was first domesticated in the steppes of northern Kazakhstan almost 5,500 years ago, latest research shows. The animal has long played and continues to play an important role in the lives of both ancient and modern Central Asian peoples.
The horse (Equus caballus) was first domesticated in the steppes of northern Kazakhstan almost 5,500 years ago, latest research shows. The animal has long played and continues to play an important role in the lives of both ancient and modern Central Asian peoples. Photo: Prague Zoo
The Takhi is named after Count Nikolai Przewalski, a Russian explorer who explored Central Asia in the 19th century, when Tsarist Russia would come to dominate the whole region.
The Takhi is named after Count Nikolai Przewalski, a Russian explorer who explored Central Asia in the 19th century, when Tsarist Russia would come to dominate the whole region. Photo: Prague Zoo
The American West has the mustangs while the Australian Outback has brumbys. However, these are feral animals. The mustangs are descended from horses brought by Spanish Conquistador to the Americas which escaped and roamed free. Brumbys are the descendants of horses of early European settlers that escaped into the Outback. This makes the Takhi the last true wild horses on the planet.
The American West has the mustangs while the Australian Outback has brumbys. However, these are feral animals. The mustangs are descended from horses brought by Spanish Conquistador to the Americas which escaped and roamed free. Brumbys are the descendants of horses of early European settlers that escaped into the Outback. This makes the Takhi the last true wild horses on the planet. This photo shows mustangs in the American West. Photo: iStock
Horses
Kazakhstan
wild horses
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