Equus Ferus Przewalski- Steel Humphry

Przewalski's Horse
Equus Ferus Przewalski
By Steel Humphry
Equus Ferus Przewalski Stallion in Khustain Nuruu National Park, Mongolia
Taken by Paul Jones

Characteristics
Thought to be a undomesticated descendent from the horses of the ancient Botai, the Equus Ferus Przewalski, better known as Przewalski's Horse, is one of the last "wild" horse breeds. Contrary to popular belief, recent genetic studies indicate that the Przewalski's Horse is not an ancestor to the modern domesticated horses, equus caballus. The Przewalski's Horse has some major differences from the domesticated horse breeds. Aside from differing visual characteristics, the Przewalski's Horse has 66 chromosomes, while the domesticated horse only has 64. However, the offspring of the domesticated horses and the Przewalski's Horse is still fertile and contains 65 chromosomes. The Przewalski's Horse originated from the eastern Eurasian Steppes and had a range from the Urals to Mongolia.

Extinction and Reintroduction
The Przewalski's Horses wild population became an extinct species in the wild during the 1960s, but later were put back on the critically endangered list. The main reason for the extinction was hunting, military activities, climatic changes, competition with livestock  and increasing land use pressure. The population only rebounded after Przewalski's Horses were reintroduced in the late 1980s to two preserves in Mongolia. Przewalski's Horses are still found in the wild today due to conservation efforts, though it remains an endangered species. Approximately 2000 Przewalski's Horses reside in zoos internationally, and there is a small breeding population that were reintroduced in Mongolia that consist of about fifty head of horses. The biggest fight for this small herd is a restricted range, potential hybridization with domestic horses, loss of genetic diversity and also disease. According to research published in 2005 by a cooperative venture between the Zoological Society of London and Mongolian scientists, there is a population of 248 animals in the wild. 

What Can You Do?
As a member of society, there is not a lot that can be done for this wild animal. The only thing that could help would be to pressure zoo's to release these scarce animals back out into the wild breed with the few that are remaining to create a greater genetic diversity. Maybe instead of going to the zoo to have to see these animals, a member of society could either enjoy them online, or even see them where they are meant to be... As a member of the Wild Kingdom.

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/p/przewalskis-horse/
https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/przewalskis-horse

Comments

  1. DrWildlifeMarch 12, 2018 at 3:39 PM

    I really liked the picture and I think that the horses are really cute. I did not know they were the last "wild" horses. I also did not know that zoos were such an issue for them and they need to release them back into the wild to breed.
    -Julia Galvan

    ReplyDelete
  2. DrWildlifeMarch 12, 2018 at 4:20 PM

    That's so crazy that the horse has 66 chromosomes! It's seriously such a beautiful species, I hope that their population will be able to rebound more in the future.
    - Elisabeth Huetter

    ReplyDelete
  3. DrWildlifeMarch 12, 2018 at 4:43 PM

    I found it very interesting that this horse has 66 chromosomes. I also had no idea that the zoo was affecting them negatively. It makes me wonder if they could be in the process of captive breeding
    -Cierra Heiland

    ReplyDelete
  4. DrWildlifeMarch 12, 2018 at 4:49 PM

    I find it really interesting how the domesticated horse, the Prezwalski horse, and their combined offspring all have different numbers of chromosomes. It is a bit sad to hear they are one of the last "wild" horse species. -Benjamin Holland

    ReplyDelete
  5. DrWildlifeMarch 12, 2018 at 5:20 PM

    I was surprised to learn that only around 250 were left in the wild. Nice pictures, and I liked the background info on how the horse was reintroduced to Mongolia. -Erin Ichimura

    ReplyDelete
  6. DrWildlifeMarch 12, 2018 at 7:45 PM

    I've always thought that all horses were more or less similar to the domesticated ones. I had no clue that there is an actual breed of wild horses. I just assumed that are domestic ones were the wild ones.
    -Dean Harris

    ReplyDelete
  7. DrWildlifeMarch 14, 2018 at 4:33 PM

    This is such an interesting animal that I have never heard about before. I think you did such a thorough job explaining it and am fascinated with this horse. It saddens me to think that there is not much the public can do to help, but I am hopeful they will be replenished back in the wild. Thanks for sharing. - Josh Heath

    ReplyDelete

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