Although poaching and habitat loss led to the extinction of Przewalskis Horses in the wild in the 1960s, the last truly wild horse species has made a comeback thanks to diligent conservation work.Table of ContentsToggleSpirit HorseWild AgainPlanned Breeding of Przewalskis HorsesTraining Przewalskis HorsesJust Like HorsesKey TakeawayThe Lascaux cave paintings in France reveal the most abundant and astonishing Paleolithic art ever discovered. Prehistoric artists painted all kinds of animals on the cave walls 20,000 years ago, including bison, antelope and even a rhinoceros.But the animal that appears most in this breathtaking wall of creatures is the horse. Herd of horses gallop across the cave walls, with the most iconic equines showing a dun coat, a dark mane that stands up, and a light tan belly.The famous Lascaux cave paintings in France date to approximately 17,000 years ago, and clearly show horses nearly unchanged from todays remaining Przewalskis. Photo Thierry/Adobe StockIn short, many of the horses of the Lascaux cave paintings look just like Przewalskis Horse, the only remaining wild horse on the planet. This equine vestige of the Ice Age nearly died out in the 20th century, only to make an amazing comeback over the last few decades.Spirit HorseAlthough we refer to the horses living free on the American range as wild, in reality, they are feral. This means they are the species Equus ferus caballusdomestic horses that were tamed by humans 5,000 years ago and bred in captivity for millennia.Przewalskis Horse, on the other hand, is a truly wild horse. Believed by many scientists to be the last wild species of horse to have survived from prehistoric times, Equus ferusprzewalskii is assumed to be a distant cousin to todays domestic horses.Photo by Yerbolat/Adobe StockResearch into their mitochondrial DNA suggests Przewalskis Horse and the domestic horse diverged from a common ancestor 500,000 years ago.Przewalskis Horse evolved on the steppes of Asia, where wide open plains and abundant grasses provided the perfect environment for horses. The people of Mongolia were witness to Prezwalskis Horse as long as humans lived on the Asian steppes, with references to these horses appearing from the time of Ghengis Khan. The Mongolian people refer to Przewalskis Horse as Takhi, which means spirit, and consider it to be the fastest and most untamable horse of all.In the late 1800s, a Polish explorer and naturalist named Nikoaj Przewalskiobserved these horses in the wilds of northwestern China, leading to the species official scientific classification of Equus ferusprzewalskii. By the early 1900s, a number of Przewalskis Horses had been captured and were being kept in zoos throughout Europe.Although thousands of Przewalskis Horses are believed to have lived in Mongolia and parts of Asia for centuries alongside human habitations, by the 1960s, they had gone completely extinct in the wild, despite government efforts to protect them. Poachers and loss of habitat meant the only Przewalskis Horses left on earth were the 14 individuals living in zoos.Wild AgainGetting Przewalskis Horse back to the steppes of Asia has been the goal of conservationists for decades. Working together with zoos around the world, this dream was accomplished in 1992 when the first herd of Przewalskis Horses were released in Hustai National Park in Mongolia. Since then, other groups of horses have also been released in the Great Gobi B Strictly Protected Area and Khomyn tal, both in Mongolia, where they are protected by order of the Mongolian government.The ultimate goal for Przewalskis Horses is [to have] enough with good genetic diversity reintroduced to the wild so we no longer have to keep them in zoos, says Simon Jeffery, animal director at Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve in Hythe, United Kingdom, a zoological park that was instrumental in the return of the Przewalskis Horse to the wild. The preserve still maintains a breeding herd.Planned Breeding of Przewalskis HorsesIts estimated that around 1,500 Przewalskis Horses are now living in the wild, with foals being born each spring. But the quest to save this very special horse continues. Lack of genetic diversity, harsh weather, predators and cross-breeding with domestic horses all contribute to the challenge Przewalskis Horses face in the wild; this is why zoos and preserves around the world maintain breeding bands of these special horses.An estimated 1,500 Przewalskis Horses are now living in the wild, all in Mongolia, since the first horses were re-released in 1992. Photo by Adobe Stock/ In the U.S., the Denver Zoo is among the organizations contributing to the conservation of the last wild horse. They are currently home to four Przewalskis Horses.In our 17 years working with Przewalskis Horses, Denver Zoo has served as both a holding and breeding institution, says Reese Pfalzer, assistant Curator of Hoofstock at the Denver Zoo. Przewalskis Horses are a managed program within the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, and one of Denver Zoos hoofstock animal care specialists is the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Species Survival Plan studbook holder for Przewalskis Horses. This means that she helps the Species Survival Plan program thrive by using genetic analysis to best pair breeding groups of Przewalskis Horses throughout North America.A Denver Zoo hoofstock animal care specialist is the studbook holder for the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Species Survival Plan for Przewalskis Horses. Photo courtesy Denver Zoological FoundationIn the Association of Zoos and Aquariums managed species program, there are 119 Przewalskis Horses in 26 different facilities throughout North America.Training Przewalskis HorsesBecause they are wild animals, Przewalskis Horses can be a challenge to manage in captivity. In addition to being a part of the international effort to conserve the species, the Denver Zoo is a leader in the training of Przewalskis Horses.The Denver Zoo has a leading training program for the Przewalskis Horses that reside there, including voluntary blood draws and hoof trims. Photo courtesy Denver Zoological FoundationWe have a strong training program for our horses that reside at the zoo, including voluntary blood draws and hoof trims, says Pfalzer. For many years, Przewalskis Horses were thought of as untrainable. Our animal care specialists have done an excellent job proving that untrue by building strong relationships with the animals that enable successfully trained voluntary behaviors so that we may provide the best care for them.Just Like HorsesAlthough Przewalskis Horse has been wild for thousands of years, the behaviors the species shows will sound very familiar to owners of domestic horses.Przewalskis Horses have a hierarchy in the pecking order, with dominant and subordinate animals, says Dolores Redd, supervisory biologist at the Smithsonians National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, who manages the zoos Przewalskis Horse population. They communicate with whinnies and neighs in various pitches like domestic horses and use body language to communicate. They put their ears back and head down to threaten, and they are quite food motivated. Interestingly, like domestic horses, they have been known to chew wood.Photo by Roshan Patel, Smithsonians National Zoo and Conservation Biology InstituteRedd also notes they tend to have the same health issues as domestic horses, particularly when it comes to over-conditioningsomething owners of easy keepers know all too well.They are prone to becoming over-conditioned, says Redd. They are very efficient and require very little supplementation if they have green pasture access.Just like domestic horses, Przewalskis Horses prefer the company of their herd mates, and can become upset when separated.Przewalskis Horses tend to be intensely herd-oriented and prefer wide open spaces, says Redd. And when confined, they can be prone to pacing, rearing and climbing.They also do not usually give warning kicks, she says. When they kick, it is usually with full force.According to Redd, after receiving one of these kicks, the hardy Przewalskis Horse who received the blow barely acknowledges the kick.In contrast, a domestic horse would likely become lame or have a welt at the point of contact, she says.Key TakeawayAccording to Pfalzer, much work still needs to be done to ensure a sustainable population of wild Przewalskis Horses in their native range. Thus far, collaboration among institutions shows for a promising future for Przewalskis Horses, both in the wild and in human care,she says. This article appeared in the May 2024 issue of Horse Illustratedmagazine.Click here to subscribe!The post Preserving Przewalskis Horse appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.