Return of the wild horses—western Mongolia

A historic moment: on 16 June 2011, one of the four Przewalski’s horses runs out of the transport crate into the acclimatisation enclosure in the Khomyn Tal area near Khar Us Nuur National Park in western Mongolia, marking the culmination of Prague Zoo’s demanding and unprecedented project. Photo: Jana Ptačinská Jirátová, Prague Zoo

The 2011 transport marked a new chapter for Prague Zoo: it was the world’s first transport of its kind to be organised by a zoological garden. Partnering with the Czech Air Force and using CASA military aircraft, three to four horses were then taken from Prague to Mongolia every year until 2019. Following acclimatisation, all 34 horses joined the wild herds. In addition, a CASA aircraft was also used to make one transport within Mongolia.

Prague Zoo also supported the Great Gobi B Strictly Protected Area itself and the long-term sustainability of returning Przewalski’s horses to the Dzungarian Gobi. Over the years, it has purchased several off-road vehicles and motorcycles, had a well sunk, rebuilt a hospital in a nearby village, funded the construction of posts for the rangers, supported research work, and so on.
The success of the project to return Przewalski’s horses to western Mongolia is evidenced by the fact that, as early as 2020, the number of wild horses in the Great Gobi B Strictly Protected Area exceeded 350. By the end of 2024, the thirty mares that arrived from Prague to the Dzungarian Gobi have had more than eighty foals, as well as ten grandchildren and even the first great-grandchildren.

Although there are significant losses of Przewalski’s horses in the Gobi B over the harsh winters (the so-called “dzuds”), their numbers are still high enough that it is not necessary to think about further transports from Europe. Prague Zoo will continue to support the work of the Strictly Protected Area’s staff, but, as concerns reintroducing horses, it has started to focus on other locations.