On August 22, the first Przewalski's horse foal was born in the Altyn Dala state nature reserve in Kostanay region. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Kursiv Media.
According to the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Kazakhstan, this is the first offspring of animals brought to Kazakhstan under the program to return the species to the wild.
Birth of the foal
The foal was born at the Alibi wild ungulate reintroduction center. It is a male. Shortly after birth, it stood on its own and followed its mother.
According to the ministry, the foal and the mare are feeling well.
"The birth of the foal has become an important result of the reintroduction program and indicates the successful adaptation of the animals to the natural conditions of the Kazakh steppe," the Ministry of Ecology reported.
About the mother
The foal's mother is a seven-year-old mare named Tessa. She was brought to Kazakhstan in 2024 from Berlin Tierpark. This is her first offspring.
Currently, the foal is with its mother and other horses. Specialists continue to monitor their condition and behavior.
About Przewalski's horse
The Przewalski's horse, or kerkulan, is considered the last surviving species of wild horse in Eurasia. In the 20th century, it disappeared from the wild, but the species was preserved through breeding in zoos.
Program progress
The program to return Przewalski's horses to Kazakhstan began in 2024. That year, seven animals were delivered to the Altyn Dala reserve. Another seven were brought in 2025 and eight in 2026.
By 2029, about 40 horses are planned to be brought to Kazakhstan. The goal of the program is to create a sustainable population that can reproduce independently in the wild.