Wild horses make history in Kazakhstan with first foal in 200 years

Astana: For the first time in 200 years, a Przewalski’s horse has been born on the steppes of central Kazakhstan.

Przewalski’s horses are considered to be the last truly wild horses on Earth. Most of the population lives in Mongolia and China, but last year the species was reintroduced to Kazakhstan through the Altyn Dala Conservation Initiative.

Now, the first foal from those reintroduced animals has been born. The young male’s arrival is a triumph for the conservation initiative, which also reintroduced the saiga antelope to the Kazakh steppes, winning an Earthshot prize for its efforts in 2024.

“This is much more than the birth of one foal,” said project coordinator Albert Salemgareyev. “It is the first new generation of Przewalski’s horses born in the steppes of central Kazakhstan, and a very important milestone for the whole reintroduction programme.”