One of Central Asia's largest reintroduction projects has begun: At around 12:45 PM, a plane carrying a very special cargo took off from Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER). Today marks the start of the joint project "Return Of The Wild Horses" with the first transport of Przewalski horses to Kazakhstan. Four Przewalski horses from Berlin are on their way to Kazakhstan to be the first herd released in the Altyn Dala steppe in central Kazakhstan. The goal of this international collaborative project is to reintroduce at least 40 wild horses into the Kazakh steppe over the next five years. Meanwhile, the herd of wild horses remaining in Berlin, intended for potential future reintroduction, is growing. Two Przewalski horses were born at the zoo in the past few days and are already up and about, sheltered by the herd.
The transport of the wild horses to the Central Asian steppe is supported by the Czech military. The four mares from Berlin are being transported in the cargo hold of a CASA military aircraft, accompanied by Christian Kern, the Zoological Director of Zoo and Tierpark Berlin, and the attending veterinarian, Dr. Annette Klein. "We were up and working from 5:00 AM this morning and are now relieved that our wild horses are safely in their transport crates. We have completed the first leg of the journey. Even though we are experienced in handling wild animals, a project like this always brings a level of tension," explains Dr. Annette Klein. The wild horses were briefly anesthetized for a blood draw this morning. Afterwards, they walked into the boxes on their own, escorted by the animal caretakers. "The Przewalski horses were carefully selected for rewilding. Only wild horses with suitable genetics, optimal physical fitness, and excellent health are chosen for reintroduction. We aim to create the best conditions so that the wild horses can survive the harsh winters in the steppe," explains biologist and Zoological Director Christian Kern. All wild horses selected for rewilding come from the European Endangered Species Programme (EEP).
During the transport, the veterinarian and zoologist take care of the wild horses, providing them with hay and water. After two stopovers, the plane will land at a disused airport near the city of Arkalyk in Kazakhstan. The second part of the herd, from Prague, already arrived in Kazakhstan earlier this week. The three Przewalski horses are already in the steppe and will soon join the wild horses from Berlin. The herd will spend their first winter at the Alibi reintroduction center in Kazakhstan, where they will be cared for before being released into the "Golden Steppe" of Altyn Dala, along with wild horses from Prague Zoo.
"Wild horses are an important part of our natural heritage, and their return to Kazakhstan is a milestone for the collaborative efforts of the involved institutions. As large grazers, Przewalski horses play a crucial role in the steppe ecosystem. They help keep the grass short, which protects the steppe from fires," explains Dr. Andreas Knieriem, Director of Zoo and Tierpark Berlin. The project is led by Prague Zoo and implemented together with the Frankfurt Zoological Society (ZGF), the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA), the Kazakh Ministry of Environment, and local conservationists from the Association for the Conservation of Biodiversity of Kazakhstan (ACBK), among other partners. With this reintroduction, the once-extinct-in-the-wild Przewalski horse is returning to its former range for the third time, following successful reintroductions in China and Mongolia.
With the two foals recently born at Tierpark Berlin (*31.5. and *3.6.2024), the next generation of wild horses is already growing in Berlin. The two young wild horses are in excellent health and are being cared for by their mothers within the herd. Typically, foals can stand on their own shortly after birth and follow the herd.
Profile of the Wild Horses
• Tessa, born 21.04.2019 at Tierpark Berlin
• Umbra, born 14.11.2020 in Schweinheim
• Sary, born 20.06.2021 in Thoiry
• Wespe, born 29.07.2019 at Tierpark Weilburg
Zoo and Tierpark Berlin have their own conservation program and support research and conservation projects on four continents. They regularly participate in reintroduction projects for endangered species, including European bison, northern bald ibis, and European moor ducks.
Background on the Przewalski Horse The Przewalski horse is considered the last remaining wild horse on Earth. It was eradicated in the wild at the beginning of the 20th century. Only a few animals survived in captivity, and several breeding lines were established in Europe and North America. In the 1950s, an international studbook was created to better coordinate conservation breeding, which is still maintained by Prague Zoo. By the 1990s, the Przewalski horse population had grown to over 1,500 individuals. Initial initiatives to reintroduce the horse to its original range in Mongolia were launched, which remain highly successful to this day. After Kazakhstan included the Przewalski horse on its national Red List, the path was cleared for an initiative in central Kazakhstan.
Tierpark Berlin, along with another center at Prague Zoo, serves as an official conservation center for this project, gathering wild horses in Berlin for reintroduction in Kazakhstan.
Przewalski horses are known for their robustness and differ significantly from domestic horses. One of the most noticeable differences is the typically missing forelock on the Przewalski horse's forehead. They are also characterized by a dorsal stripe, a dark, narrow stripe along the backbone.
