The last wild horse: How Przewalski’s horse returned from extinction

One Earth’s “Species of the Week” series highlights an iconic species that represents the unique biogeography of each of the 185 bioregions of the Earth.

Przewalski’s horse (Equus ferus przewalskii), also called the takhi, Mongolian wild horse, or Dzungarian horse, roams the vast steppes of Central Asia. This landscape, defined by rolling grasslands, rocky outcrops, and extreme weather, has shaped the evolution of this hardy species. 

Once found across Eurasia, the last wild herds were pushed into Mongolia’s arid regions, where they battled harsh winters, scorching summers, and scarce food sources.

A compact and rugged survivor

Przewalski’s horses, named after the Russian geographer and explorer Nikolay Przhevalsky, who first described the species in the 19th century, are stocky, short, and pot-bellied compared to domestic horses. 

Typical height is between 122–142 centimeters (48–56 inches), and length is about 2.1 meters (6 ft 11 in). It weighs around 300 kilograms (660 lb). 

They have a distinctive spiky mane, a light belly, and a darker back with a bold dorsal stripe. Their legs and mane are darker than their body, and they lack a forelock. Adapted for the cold, they grow thick winter coats and huddle together against storms, demonstrating a resilience that has helped them survive for millennia.

The genetic legacy of the “last wild horse”

Przewalski's horse differs genetically from modern domestic horses, showing that neither is an ancestor of the other. It has 33 chromosome pairs, whereas domestic horses have 32, and their ancestral lineages diverged between 160,000 and 38,000 years ago—long before horses were domesticated. 

This genetic distinction makes Przewalski’s horse the only truly wild horse remaining today, unlike the American mustang and Australian brumby, which are feral horses descended from domesticated ancestors.

Grazing herbivores that shape the steppe

Like their domestic cousins, Przewalski’s horses are grazers. They primarily feed on wild grasses, supplementing their diet with shrubs in the winter. 

Their sharp hooves allow them to dig for water and forage beneath snow-covered terrain. As they graze, they help maintain the balance of the steppe ecosystem by preventing overgrowth and promoting biodiversity.

Complex social structures and survival tactics

These wild horses live in two distinct social groups: harems and bachelor groups. A dominant stallion leads a harem of up to ten mares and their young, protecting them from predators and rival males. 

Young stallions, meanwhile, form bachelor groups until they are mature enough to challenge for their own harem. Mares groom one another, reinforcing social bonds, while stallions mark territory with stud piles of feces. At night, the herd takes turns standing guard against wolves, their primary predator.

From foal to adulthood

Mares give birth after an 11-month gestation period, typically in late spring or early summer. Foals must be able to stand and move with the herd within 30 minutes of birth. By one-week-old, they are eating grasses and practicing their kicking skills. 

At two months, they are nearly independent of their mothers, and by five months, they fully integrate into the group’s grazing patterns. Young males eventually leave their birth herd to join bachelor groups, while females move to other harems.

The takhi: Horse of legends 

For centuries, Przewalski’s horse has played a role in the cultural traditions of the Mongolian people, who call it the takhi. The horse symbolizes wild freedom and resilience, appearing in ancient cave paintings in France and Spain. Though it was never truly domesticated, it remains a vital part of Mongolian heritage.

From the brink of extinction to a conservation success story

By the 20th century, hunting, habitat loss, and competition with livestock drove Przewalski’s horse to extinction in the wild. The last confirmed sighting occurred in 1969. However, thanks to captive breeding programs, the species made a remarkable comeback. 

A population descended from just 14 individuals was carefully managed, and reintroductions began in the 1990s. Today, wild herds roam free in Mongolia’s Khustain Nuruu National Park, Takhin Tal Nature Reserve, and Khomiin Tal, as well as reserves in Kazakhstan and China.

The future of Przewalski’s horse and ongoing challenges

Despite these successes, Przewalski’s horse remains endangered. Climate change, habitat degradation, and limited genetic diversity pose threats to its long-term survival. Conservationists continue to monitor wild populations and introduce zoo-bred horses to maintain genetic health. Advanced techniques, including genome sequencing and cloning, are being explored to further strengthen the species’ future.

A testament to species rewilding

Przewalski’s horse stands as a symbol of hope for conservation. Its successful rewilding demonstrates the power of human intervention in saving species from extinction. With continued efforts, the last wild horse of Central Asia may thrive for generations to come, galloping freely across the steppes once more.

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