Przewalski horses return to the Kazakh steppe after 200 years!

Przewalski horses return to the Kazakh steppe after 200 years!

Berlin, Deutschland - On June 12, 2025, an important step in the return of the Przewalski horses was carried out in their original habitat in Kazakhstan. Four of these endangered animals, who had lived in a release enclosure for a year, were successfully released into the ALDN-DALA steppe. This region was the home of the species over 200 years ago, which is considered the only real wild horse in the world and has meanwhile died out in the wilderness.

The horses, which were transported together with three other animals from Prague in spring 2024, lived under observation for a year and survived extreme cold of up to minus 30 degrees. Two of them are equipped with channels to pursue their development. The "Return of the Wild Horses" release project is supported by various organizations, including the Berlin Tierpark and the Prague Zoo. The aim is to settle at least 40 Przewalski horses in Kazakhstan in the long term.

The return of the Przewalski horses

The resettlement of the Przewalski horses aims to restore functioning steppe echosystems. These animals, which disappeared from the Kazakh steppe through human activities in the 19th century, will be an important part of the ecosystem in the future. They help to promote vegetation and create habitats for smaller species, such as Asian wild donkey (Kulan) and Saiga antelopes.

an international cooperation for receiving

The project for the back settlement was made possible by the cooperation of various organizations, including the Kazakh government, ACBK, Frankfurt Zoological Society and the Zoos in Prague, Nuremberg and Berlin. The ALTYN DALA CONEATION Initiative, which was launched in 2005, aims to maintain and restore the steppe echosystems in Kazakhstan through the protection and promotion of biodiversity. Future transports of around 30 other Przewalski horses are already planned to establish a self-supporting population.

Overall, the chances are good that these extraordinary animals will be successfully integrated into the wilderness and the biodiversity in the Kazakh steppe is encouraged. With this initiative, hope is fueled that the Przewalski horses will not only survive, but also contribute to the regeneration of their original habitats.

Reporting on this project shows the commitment of many players for the protection of endangered species and the restoration of severely contaminated ecosystems. A successful continued existence of the Przewalski horses in Kazakhstan could serve as a model for similar initiatives worldwide.

For further information on this unique project and the current developments, you can call up the following articles: rbb24. and ALTYN DALA Initiative.