Przewalski's Horse

Przewalski's Horse (Equus ferus przewalskii), also known as the Takhi, is a rare and endangered subspecies of wild horse native to the steppes of Central Asia. It is the last truly wild species of horse and is a symbol of successful conservation efforts.

Przewalski's Horse is a stocky, powerful horse with a relatively short neck and legs. Its coat is a dun or yellowish-brown color, and it has a stiff, erect mane and a dark stripe down its back. Unlike domestic horses, it has 66 chromosomes instead of 64.

The Przewalski's Horse was declared extinct in the wild in the late 1960s, due to hunting and competition with livestock. However, a small number of these horses survived in zoos. Through a dedicated international captive breeding program, a stable population was established. In the 1990s, reintroduction programs began, with horses being released into their native habitats in Mongolia and other locations.

Thanks to these reintroduction programs, the status of Przewalski's Horse has been upgraded from "Extinct in the Wild" to "Endangered." While the wild population is still small, it is growing, and this species is considered a landmark success story in global conservation.