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THE PRZEWALSKI HORSE

By Malfrid Kvale, 1st year veterinary program, april 2004

 

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Perissodactyla
Family: Equidae
Genus: Equus
Species: Equus caballus
Subspecies: Equus caballus przewalskii

INTRODUCTION

The Mongolian horse, Przewalski, also know as Takhi, has for many years been listed as extinct in the wild by The Red List of Endangered Species. These animals, which are considered the last truly wild horse, have due to excessive hunting by man and loss of grazing and watering areas to domestic animals, only been seen in captivity since the late 1960?s. Today there are programmes running with the aim of re-instating the species into their original habitat in the Hustai National Park in Mongolia.

ABOUT THE PRZEWALSKI

The Przewalski is named after the Russian explorer N.M. Przewalski who first sighted several herds in 1879, but cave drawings in southern Europe can date the horses back at least 20 000 years.
The horses are small and compact with a quite big head. Theire size range from 124 ? 144 cm in height, and approximately 200 ? 300 kg of weight.
They are most often light brown to sandy in colour, with mealy colour on the muzzle and around the eyes, black-rimmed ears, a dark dorsal band on the back and often zebra-like stripes on the legs.
Unlike the domestic horses the Przewalski?s bristle mane and tail shed ones a year.
Another difference from the domesticated horse is the fact that the Przewalski has 66 chromosomes instead of the normal 64. Even so mixed offspring are viable and able to reproduce (it is required to mention that mixing the species is not especially popular because it might lead to loss of original characteristics of the wild horse).
The species behaviour recembles the zebra?s which means that they cannot be handled, mounted or haltered, they are shy and might even be aggressive if they feel threatened ( especially in captivity).

REINTRODUCTION TO NATURAL HABITAT

The Przewalski have been in captivity for more than 13 generations, but since 1992 150 animals (approx. 13 family groups) have been released into the wild in Hustai National Park.
The horses have been part of a breeding programme with the aim of securing the genetic basis so that it is possible to build a new population. Two generations of selected horses have been living in semi-reserves in different parts of the world and re-learnt their social behaviour Groups of these animals have been brought to Mongolia to be set free. To make the transition

from one environment to another as easy as possible the horses are first being kept in an acclimasation area for approximately 1-2 years. Here they adapt to the vegetation, the cold
winters and they learn to function as a group. A report made on the observations of the first groups ( see sources: Behavioral observations?.) show that the animals had little problems in this process and that this way of introducing them to the habitat functions as planned. After the acclimasation periode the horses are being released and has soon established their own home ranges.

SOCIAL BEHAVIOR

The harem groups consist of one leading stallion, a few mares and youngsters, and a batchelor group. They follow a strict hierarchical system were the stallion and the older or most aggressive mares rule. Even so, most of the time, the group members are quite friendly towards each other. It was (before release of the animals) considered that the stallions would act more aggressive in the wild, but the above mentioned report found that this is not so. Many of the horses are actually more hostile in captivity probably because of the lack of space to move away from each other rather than to fight. With the vast areas of the Hustai National Park available, they can move out of sight if necessary. Once in a while a stray stallion or one from the batchelor group will come along and pick a fight with the leading stallion in the attempt of trying to take over the group. If he wins, the group structure will change, but if he looses he gets chased away and things remains the same.
Most of the time the Przewalski spend grazing and wandering around their territory in the search for resources. The leading stallion breeds with the mares, and once a year, in May, June to July (April-May in captivity), the foals are born. Grown up horses are not likely to be attacked by any other animal, but the foals are vulnerable. So in a threatened position the group will work together to avoid loosing its youngest members. The Przewalski are social creatures and stick together as a group rather than act as individuals.

CONCLUSION

Today there are about 1300 Przewalski horses in the world. Most of them live in captivity but a few is living successfully in the wild. The species are still very vulnerable but it seems like the breeding programms are working. I think that it is very important to continue releasing these animals into the wild so that in the future it might be a survivable population again. The Przewalski does not have any real great enemies amongst other animals. Humans are the only real danger. I would like to think that we see the great addition this animal is to our environment and keep on working for the survival of the species.
We know so little about how the Przewalski behaves and functions in the wild. Most of what we know is based on observations of captured animals. I think it is very important to study how the wild horses live so that we can get necessary information which can help the species on a long term basis.
At the moment it seems like the releasing program is a great success, the horses prosper and increase in number every year. Let us hope that this has been the turning point for the Przewalski horse.


SOURCES

  
 
Notes (if any) by Peter Kabai:  


 
   
 
  
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