Unique, but why?

In this section you can learn about the live of the Przewalski horse. If you want to know more, you can download a free 33 page booklet (last update 2003; for actual information regarding the annual growth, please contact Hustai National Park) on the Przewalski horse
Particulars about the Przewalski horse by Jan Bouman (pdf, 3.1 Mb)
uniqueThe Przewalski horse – takhi in Mongolian – is the sole surviving genuine wild horse in the world, not to be confused with, for instance, the mustang, a descendent from domestic breeds gone wild. The takhi is the only wild relative of the domestic horse that has been able to hold out during the cause of natural history. It is also unique that after their extinction from the wild in the 1960s and after more than thirteen generations in captivity the Przewalski horses were reintroduced into their natural environment in Mongolia.

Przewalski horses are among the most threatened wildlife species in the world. The entire world population consists of no more than 2000 individual animals (Studbook Prague, 01.01.2012). The Red List (IUCN) of Endangered Species classifies the species as extinct. Przewalski horses fall under Appendix 1 of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of wild fauna and flora (CITES), which makes it an offense to trade them. Every transaction, for instance exchange between breeding groups, must be accompanied by the official documents of approval.