Przewalski horse - Mongolian wild horse (Equus przewalskii) stallion grazing on the Causse Méjean in summer - Cevennes - France
The world's last wild horse. Judging by paintings which adorn the Lascaux caves, the Przewalski horse was present in Europe during the last glaciation years ago. Climatic changes, or perhaps even the influence of man, have since restricted them to the Asian steppes. A large capturing effort was led after the rediscovery of the species at the end of 19th century in Mongolia. Added to this, the competition with domestic herds and many hard winters had the consequence that the species has since disappeared from the wild. The TAKH association was formed in 1990. Its goal was to build up a natural population of Przewalski horse at Villaret on the Causse Méjean (Cevennes - France) so that certain individuals may be reintroduced into their historic range in Mongolia. To this end individuals were brought from European zoos to Villaret. The objectives of the breeding scheme are to allow the horses to regain their ability to survive without human assistance and to form family groups as are seen in all other natural populations before their reintroduction in Mongolia where the conditions are very harsh.
Size: 4256px × 2831px
Location: Cevennes - France
Photo credit: © Robert HENNO / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: adult, animal, breed, breeding, cevennes, equus, extinct, france, graze, grazing, horse, male, mammal, mongolia, mongolian, nature, przewalski, reintroduction, stallion, steppe, wild, wildlife
