Przewalski's Horse

Facts

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

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 (then 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 then ECAZA in 1985. A corresponding programme (ASMP) has been established by ARAZPA. Zoos oparticipating in the ex situ programmes support also reintroduction and in situ research projects. The Przewalski's horse is the only surviving ancestir of our domestic horse and is therefore of major interest.

How this animal should be kept

Przewalski's horses should be kept in social groups of one adult male and several females with their offspring. Also the keeping of groups of compatible bachelors is possible. For up to five adult animals an outdoor enclosure of at least 800 m² is required, which should be enlarged by 80 m² for each additional adult.

The enclosure should be well structured, frequently used areas, e.g. at the entrance to the stables, should be paved. The soil should be well drained. There should be sandy patches allowing for wallowing. There must be an easily accessible shelter of sufficient size. No indoor facilities are required. Where Przewalski's horses are kept indoors at times, either a common stable of 20 m² for the first two adult animals is required, which has to be enlarged by 2 m² for each additional adult or, if the animals are individually stabled, there must be boxes of at 8 m² each.

Przewalski's horses are grazers. They should be fed on a diet consisting of grass and hay supplemented by horse pellets, carrots and branches in leave.