Przewalski’s horse (Equus ferus przewalskii / Equus przewalskii)
Contrary to popular belief, the Przewalski’s horse does not derive its name from a Polish origin. This remarkable equine is distinguished by its erect, short mane and robust, stocky physique, characteristics that set it apart from domesticated breeds. Possessing an inherent wildness, these horses represent the last remaining truly wild horse species. Once roaming vast expanses, their numbers dwindled drastically, making sightings in their natural habitat rare. Conservation efforts have become crucial to preserve their genetic lineage and ensure their survival. Przewalski’s horse serves as a poignant reminder of the wild heritage that has been largely lost to domestication. Their resilience and unique evolutionary path make them a subject of intense scientific interest and a symbol of wilderness preservation.
Classification
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Mammalia
- Order: Perissodactyla
- Family: Equidae
- Genus: Equus
- Species: Equus ferus
- Subspecies: Equus ferus przewalskii
Przewalski’s horse was formally described by Ivan Semyonovich Polyakov in 1881. It is considered the only surviving truly wild horse, distinct from domesticated horses (Equus ferus caballus) and the extinct tarpan (Equus ferus ferus). Its taxonomic status remains debated, with some classifying it as a full species (Equus przewalskii), while others treat it as a subspecies of the wild horse (Equus ferus przewalskii)
Habitat
This rare species originally inhabited the steppes of Central Asia, particularly Mongolia. The last individual in the wild was seen in 1969, in the Mongolian lands. However, the population has been reintroduced to its natural habitat and is now found in Khustain Nuruu National Park and the Takhin Tal and Khomiin Tal nature reserves. Today, they live freely in China and Mongolia, Ukraine, and California, where special reserves have been established to protect these animals.
Characteristics
Appearance
It is characterized by a more stocky build and shorter legs compared to its domesticated relatives. It reaches approximately 132 cm (52 inches) in height, 2.1 m (6.9 feet) in length, and 300 kg (661 pounds) in weight. The coat is usually light brown with yellow undertones, while the mane, legs, and tail are black (dun horse). The mane is short and erect, lacking the bangs characteristic of domestic horses.
The legs exhibit delicate stripes, a typical feature of the coloration of primitive horse species. The croup is slightly longer, and the tail hair is shorter than that of domesticated horses. The Przewalski’s horse is more muscular but smaller than its domesticated cousins. The spring-summer coat grows shorter, while it becomes longer and thicker with the onset of winter.
Lifestyle
Behavior
The Przewalski’s horse exhibits behaviors characteristic of wild horses. It lives in small family groups, consisting of an adult stallion, 1-3 mares, and their common offspring. Young individuals stay with the family until they reach independence, which is about 2-3 years.
Stallions not associated with any females or without offspring, or old males, join bachelor groups. Small family groups merge into herds and travel together.
In a threatening situation, the herd of stallions defends the remaining members of the group, and mares often display leadership skills. Thus, there is one dominant female in each group. Stallions and mares stay with their chosen partner for about a year.
Horses maintain eye contact with members of their family and can present many ways of communicating in any situation: sounds, scent signals, and a wide range of visual and tactile signals. Every behavior – ear twitching, grooming, leaning towards another horse’s ear is a way of communication. Constant communication between herd members leads to complex social behaviors.
Dominance in the Herd
Establishing a dominant stallion in the herd depends on many factors, including the herd’s current needs at a given moment. The fight for dominance can be dangerous, as leg injuries sometimes occur, leading to disabilities that result in problems with accessing food and water. Therefore, establishing dominance is not driven by aggression, and if it does occur, it is very rare, as “higher-ranking” individuals exert control and extinguish aggressive behaviors in the herd.
In stressful situations, extreme conditions, or confrontations with predators, the safest individuals are in the center of the herd, as they have the greatest protection from the elements and attackers.
Young horses (mares and stallions) that have reached sexual maturity are expelled from the herd – females join other herds, and males enter bachelor groups to avoid danger from natural enemies. However, the goal of every male is to create a harem (a herd consisting of a stallion and several females and their young).
Role of Mare
It is commonly believed that the stallion is the “lord and master” of all the mares in the herd – the harem. However, the truth is that the leader of wild horses is the alpha female – the dominant mare. She is usually one of the oldest females in the herd, responsible for its safety, knows the terrain, and knows where to find large amounts of food most easily. She leads the group during travel, sets routes, has priority during watering, and chooses the best grazing spots.
Role of Stallion
Males are located on the periphery of the herd because they must repel predator attacks and “visits” from foreign stallions. During travel, males walk at the rear, observing the surroundings and ensuring that the herd does not disperse too much. During mating, they act impulsively, sometimes aggressively, to keep the mares with them. Most of the time, however, they are relatively calm, spending a lot of time “caring” for the herd: guarding the mares, marking the territory with the scent contained in their urine. Living on the outskirts of the group makes them more vulnerable to the effects of harsh weather conditions, attacks from humans and foreign males. If a stallion does not “prove himself” in his role or dies, he is replaced by another individual.
Diet
The Przewalski’s horse is a typical herbivore – it feeds on grass and steppe vegetation.
Reproduction
Mares reach sexual maturity in their 2nd year of life, but the first birth occurs after the 3rd year. Stallions are not fertile until their 3rd year. Similar to domesticated mares, Przewalski’s horse females also experience estrus in spring and summer, and some are fertile year-round. Males do not have “breaks” in fertility; they can reproduce 365 days a year. Pregnancy lasts 11-12 months (330-350 days), and births usually take place in the early summer months, i.e., from May to July.
Origin of the Name
The first person to accurately describe the wild horses of the Mongolian steppes was a Russian general and geographer – Nikolai Przewalski. This traveler and naturalist created the first description of a wild horse from Asia in 1881, when he led an expedition supported by rumors of the existence of extraordinary horses in those areas. Many of these animals, at the beginning of the 20th century, were captured and placed in zoos.
The first mentions of wild Mongolian equines come from the 15th century when Johann Schiltberger, as one of the first Europeans, observed herds of these animals and described them in his travel diary through Mongolia as a prisoner of the Mongolian khan.
In the 20th century, the Przewalski’s horse population drastically decreased due to hunting. The last wild herds were observed in 1967, and the last individual in the wild was seen in 1969. Afterwards, no wild horses of Mongolia were found, and the species was designated as extinct in the wild. The situation did not change for 30 years. Today, there is a fight to reintroduce wild populations to their original habitats, and there are many indications that the wild Przewalski’s horse will return to nature.
Name
Currently, the Przewalski’s horse is often referred to as:
- Przewalski’s horse
- Mongolian wild horse
- Dzungarian horse
- Takhi
Detailed Data and Dimensions / Size
Przewalski’s Horse (Equus przewalskii)
- Length: approx. 2.1 m (6.9 feet)
- Height at the withers: 122 – 142 cm (48-56 in); on average 132 cm (52 in)
- Weight: 200 – 340 kg (441-750 lb); on average 300 kg (661 lb)
- Tail length: approx. 90 cm (35 in)
- Lifespan: 25 – 30 years
Przewalski’s Horse – Interesting Facts
- The Przewalski’s horse is the last living species of wild horse. For information – American mustangs are not wild horses. They are a breed of horses brought from Spain, some of which escaped into the wild and became feral, thus creating a new breed of horse.
- The number of chromosomes is 66, while in other horse species, this number is 64.
- The Przewalski’s horse has never been domesticated for riding, which testifies to its true wildness.
- The Mongolian name for these horses is Takhi – “spirit”.
- The Przewalski’s horse is one of the most important elements of Mongolian culture, a symbol of Mongolia’s national heritage.
- The center of the herd is the safest place. Often, when one of its members behaves inappropriately, they are “thrown out” to the periphery of the herd or outside its boundaries temporarily or permanently.
- Studies of wild herds have shown that expelling young stallions and mares from the group may be related to the instinct to prevent inbreeding.
- By the end of 1950, the wild Przewalski’s horse population included only 12 individuals.
- Nikolai Przewalski, although historically his Polish roots can be traced, was not Polish and did not consider himself Polish. He even volunteered to fight against Poles in the January Uprising (22 January 1863 – 18 June 1864).
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