Przewalski's Horse
(Equus ferus przewalskii)
Facts
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IUCN ENDANGERED (EN)
Facts about this animal
Smaller than most domestic horse species, Przewalski's horses weigh about 200 to 340 kilograms and stand 122 to 142 centimeters tall. They have stocky bodies, large heads, thick necks, upright manes, and a dark stripe down their backs. Their underbellies and muzzles have pale white markings, and their legs are short and slender. The history of extinction and reintroduction is told in the Conservation Section. Przewalski's horses live to be about 20 years old. They live in either family or bachelor groups. Family groups are led by a dominant stallion. Przewalski's horses share their habitat with Asiatic wild asses.
Did you know?
That Przewalski's horses were extinct in the wild and survived only thanks to conservation breeding programmes of zoos? Currently the International Studbook kept under the WAZA flag by Prague Zoo lists more than 1500 Przewalski's horses kept by zoos, and there are several successful reintroduction projects.
| Factsheet | |
|---|---|
| Class | MAMMALIA |
| Order | PERISSODACTYLA |
| Suborder | HIPPOMORPHA |
| Family | EQUIDAE |
| Name (Scientific) | Equus ferus przewalskii |
| Name (English) | Przewalski's Horse |
| Name (French) | Cheval de Przewalski |
| Name (German) | Przewalskipferd |
| Name (Spanish) | Caballo salvaje |
| Local names | Takhi (Mong.) |
| CITES Status | Appendix I |
| CMS Status | Not listed |
Photo Copyright by
Jairo S. Feris Delgado
Distribution
| Distribution | |
|---|---|
| Range | Mongolia |
| Habitat | Semi-arid and arid steppe grasslands |
| Wild population | 325 (2008) (Red List IUCN 2011) |
| Zoo population | 480 reported to ISIS (2009). |
In the Zoo
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How this animal should be transported
For air transport, Container Note 73 of the IATA Live Animals Regulations, should be followed.
Find this animal on ZooLex
Photo Copyright by
Jairo S. Feris Delgado
Why do zoos keep this animal
The Przewalski's horse is one of the species that was extinct in the wild but was saved in human care.
In 1957 the collection of data for the International Studbook for the Przewalski’s Horse was initiated, and in 1959 the studbook was published and officially approved by WAZA (previously IUDZG).
In 1979 a North American Breeders Group was formed, which eventually became the American Zoo and Aquarium Association’s Species Survival Plan (SSP) for the Przewalski’s horse. In Europe, an EEP was initiated by the ECAZA in 1985. A corresponding programme (ASMP) has been established by ARAZPA. Zoos participating in the ex situ programmes support also reintroduction and in situ research projects. The Przewalski's horse is the only surviving ancestor of our domestic horse and is therefore of major interest.