Hey there, horse lovers! 🐴 Big news from northwest China: 15 Przewalski's horses just arrived at their new home in the Dunhuang West Lake National Nature Reserve on Saturday. This move is all about preventing inbreeding and keeping these wild horses healthy and thriving.
These majestic creatures were transferred in batches from the Anxi Extreme-arid Desert National Nature Reserve. With their arrival, the Dunhuang reserve's Przewalski's horse population has grown from 126 to 166. That's a significant boost! 🎉
But why the move? Well, the horses at Anxi originally came from Britain, while those at Dunhuang came from Germany. Without human intervention, they might end up with genetic similarities that could lead to health problems. By mixing up the herds, the conservationists are improving the genetic diversity of the species, enhancing their ability to survive in the wild.
\"We aim to increase the population of the species, change their genes, and strengthen their resistance for living in the wild to enhance their survival ability,\" said Sun Weigang, director of the administration and conservation center of the Dunhuang reserve.
Before the transfer, the team set up fences at Anxi to help the horses adapt to a semi-captive environment and reduce their stress during transport. They even underwent parasite treatments to make sure they're in tip-top shape. 🏇
The last group of 15 horses will spend a few months getting used to their new surroundings at Dunhuang before being released into the wild next year. Talk about a fresh start!
For those who may not know, Przewalski's horses are native to China and Mongolia and are currently endangered in the wild. They're considered China's first-class protected animals and retain their original equine genes. Sadly, they went extinct in the wild in the mid-20th century due to excessive hunting and environmental issues.
But there's hope! In 1985, China started a campaign to revive these wild horses by introducing them from other countries and setting up breeding bases in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and Gansu Province.
Just last September, the Dunhuang reserve released 40 Przewalski's horses into two wetlands 30 kilometers away. So far, four groups of 30 horses have settled and started breeding in these wetlands. The future is looking bright for these incredible animals! 🌟
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
