Przewalski’s Horse

Przewalski’s Horse Latest News

Two Przewalski’s horse foals were born in a reintroduction center in the grasslands of central Kazakhstan and are reportedly the first wild horses born on Kazakh soil in more than 200 years. 

About Przewalski’s Horse

• It is the only living wild relative of the domestic horse. 
• Przewalski’s horse (Equus ferus przewalskii or Equus przewalskii), otherwise known as P-horse, is named after Nikolai Przewalski.
• Appearance: It has a short neck, large head, short legs and a stout body. They have a black, upright mane and a reddish-brown to cream-colored coat with a black stripe across their back. 
• Habitat: It lives on open steppes and semi-deserts and also in winter on the large increasingly barren grassy plains.
• Distribution: The species historically lived across the steppe grasslands of Russia, Kazakhstan, Mongolia and northern China.
• Characteristics
  • The horses are capable of resisting harsh winters like the ones in Kazakhstan where temperatures can drop below minus 30 degrees C.
  • These are diurnal and gregarious animals that live in small herds consisting of 10-20 individuals. 
  • Diet: They maintain a herbivorous (graminivorous) diet, which is generally composed of grass and various plants. 
  • They are hind-gut fermenters, meaning that they need to consume large amounts of water and low quality food.
• Ecological Role:  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: IUCN Red List: Endangered

Source: NM

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