On June 3, a new group of Przewalski’s horses arrived in Kazakhstan as part of the international “Return of the Wild Horses” project. This marks the second such transfer, with the animals delivered from Prague Zoo and Hungary’s Hortobágy National Park.
Supervised Adaptation in Altyn Dala
Four horses were flown in by two military transport aircraft, landing early in the morning at Arkalyk Airport. They were then transported for five hours to the Altyn Dala State Reserve, where they will remain for a year under expert supervision before their release into the wild.
Located in the Kostanay region, the Altyn Dala reserve provides the necessary infrastructure and qualified personnel to ensure successful acclimatization. According to Daniyar Turgambaev, chairman of the Forestry and Wildlife Committee, the second group has been safely delivered, while the first group is already ready for life in the open steppe.
“For us, as the leading body for biodiversity conservation in Kazakhstan, it is a great honor to lead such an important stage in the restoration of our nature,” he said.
Unexpected Incident in Prague
One stallion, named Whisky, caused a stir in Prague prior to departure. He kicked open the door of a moving trailer and ended up loose on a highway near Černý Most, disrupting traffic on the Prague Ring Road and the city’s South Highway. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.
According to Miroslav Bobek, director of the Prague Zoo, Whisky was sedated and returned to the zoo. The remaining horses were successfully loaded and sent to Kazakhstan.
Reviving a Wild Species
Przewalski’s horse is the last surviving species of true wild horse, once extinct in the wild by the mid-20th century. Its survival has depended entirely on captive breeding programs. Kazakhstan began its reintroduction efforts in 2024 with support from several international partners: the Prague Zoo, Association for the Conservation of Biodiversity of Kazakhstan (ACBK), the Frankfurt Zoological Society, and the Nuremberg and Berlin Zoos, as well as the Hortobágy National Park.
The initial group of seven horses arrived in June 2024. They endured harsh conditions in the Turgai steppe, including temperatures dropping to -30 °C. Two mares, Umbra and Vesper, were fitted with GPS collars to monitor their movements after release.
Ecological Significance
The Altyn Dala reserve, established in 2012, spans nearly 490,000 hectares. It also hosts a parallel program for the reintroduction of kulans (Asiatic wild asses). By 2029, authorities aim to reintroduce 40-45 Przewalski’s horses, enough to establish a self-sustaining population. As Bobek notes, the project will continue until “a viable and genetically diverse population is formed.”
Przewalski’s horses play a crucial role in steppe ecosystems by controlling vegetation, reducing the risk of wildfires, and facilitating winter survival for other species through snow clearance and trail formation.
The species is listed in the Red Book of Kazakhstan and in Appendix II of the CITES Convention. A memorandum signed on February 28, 2023, provides for the transport of at least 40 wild horses to Kazakhstan over the next four to five years. The Altyn Dala Center, operated by ACBK, is now a central hub for restoring endangered species to their natural habitats.
