Przewalski’s Horse

About Przewalski’s Horse

• Przewalski’s horse is subspecies of wild horse.
  • It is the only living wild relative of the domestic horse.
• Scientific name: Its scientific name is E. ferus przewalskii.
  • It is locally known as kertagy.
• Distribution:  It once lived across the grasslands of Kazakhstan, Russia, Mongolia, and northern China.
  • It was once considered extinct in the wild but survived through captive-breeding programs.
  • It was reintroduced into Kazakhstan in 2024 after a 200-year absence through the “Return of the Wild Horses” programme.
• Characteristics:
  • Appearance: They have tan to reddish brown fur with white on the belly, dark brown on the lower legs and a white muzzle.
  • There are markings in its body which are of yellowish-white belly, dark lower legs, and zebra-like stripes behind the knees.
    • It has a stiff, dark brown mane.
    • It has a stocky build with short legs.
    • Their large eyes are on the sides of their head, giving them a wide view to spot predators while grazing or drinking.
    • They grow a thick coat in winter to stay warm and shed it in summer to keep cool.
      • It can withstand harsh winters with temperatures dropping below minus 30 degrees Celsius.
    • Their tan color helps them blend into the grasslands and deserts where they live.
    • Weight: They weigh 247-383 kg.
    • Height: It stand 48-58 inches (120-146 cm) tall at the shoulder.
  • Diet: In the wild, it feed mainly on grass and leaves from shrubs and trees.
  • Behaviour: It is a very social animal forming herds consisting of one stallion and four to 10 mares with their offspring. 
    • The stallion is responsible for the herd’s protection and coordinates daily movements of the group.
    • Herds don’t mix but share territory.
    • They digest food through hindgut fermentation, allowing them to survive on large amounts of low-quality vegetation and water.
• Ecological Importance: They graze on dry vegetation to reduce wildfire risk, their hooves disturb the soil letting new plants take root, and they disperse seeds across the landscape as they roam.
• Conservation status: It was listed as extinct-in-the-wild until one adult was found in 1996, after which it was re-listed as critically endangered.
  • Since 2011, it has been classified as endangered by the IUCN.