Przewalski’s horse

Equus przewalskii

Family

Equidae

Distribution

Przewalski’s horses (takhi) originated on the steppes of Asia. The native wild horse in Switzerland was the Eurasian wild horse (tarpan), but the last of these were hunted out of existence in the last century.

Habitat

Today, Przewalski’s horses live on the steppes and semi-arid regions of Mongolia. The lack of water means that they are unable to survive in actual deserts.

Lifestyle

Mares, foals and a leading stallion form harem groups, while younger males live in bachelor groups.

Reproduction

After a gestation period of 43 to 52 weeks the mare gives birth to a single foal, generally in April or May when there is a particularly ample supply of food. Mares are ready to conceive again and can be covered by a stallion shortly after giving birth. As a result, mares gives birth to a foal each year, despite the long gestation period.

Diet

The horses cover great distances in their search for steppe grasslands and watering places.

Senses

They have well-developed eyesight, hearing and sense of smell.

The Przewalski’s horse in Langenberg

Since 1987. The harem group in Langenberg West is used to produce offspring as part of the European Endangered Species Programme (EEP). Since autumn 2011 it has been possible to keep Przewalski’s horses and bison together in a spacious enclosure.

Langenberg has been involved in a resettlement project run by the International Takhi Group (ITG), which regularly releases animals into the wild in Mongolia’s Gobi B national park, since 1996. 

Karin Hindenlang, Managing Director of Wildnispark Zürich, has actively accompanied this reintroduction project for a very long time. An interview with her, which appeared in the magazine Tierwelt, shows how this unique commitment to species conservation has developed. Read it at Tierwelt.ch.