In a significant move to prevent inbreeding and enhance genetic diversity, northwest China’s Gansu Province has successfully transferred the last group of 15 Przewalski’s horses between its nature reserves. The horses reached their new home at the Dunhuang West Lake National Nature Reserve on Saturday.
The relocation involved moving a total of 40 Przewalski’s horses in batches from the Anxi Extreme-arid Desert National Nature Reserve to the Dunhuang reserve, increasing the population there from 126 to 166. This strategic transfer aims to bolster the species’ ability to thrive in the wild by diversifying their genetic pool.
Prior to the transfer, special measures were taken at the Anxi reserve to minimize stress on the horses. Fences were erected to help them adapt to a semi-captive environment, and they underwent parasite expulsion in preparation for the journey.
The Przewalski’s horses at Anxi originated from Britain, while those at Dunhuang came from Germany. Without intervention, these separate groups might face inbreeding issues under natural conditions. By blending these populations, conservationists hope to strengthen the species’ genetic resilience.
“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 West Lake National Nature Reserve.
The newly arrived horses will spend several months in a semi-captive environment at the Dunhuang reserve to acclimate to local conditions before being released into the wild next year.
Przewalski’s horses, native to China and Mongolia and currently endangered, are China’s first-class protected animals that retain original equine genes. They were once extinct in the wild by the mid-20th century due to excessive hunting and environmental factors.
In 1985, China initiated a campaign to revive wild Przewalski’s horses by reintroducing them from other countries and establishing breeding bases in Gansu and the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Last September, the Dunhuang reserve released 40 Przewalski’s horses into two wetlands 30 kilometers away. So far, four groups totaling 30 horses have settled and bred successfully in these areas.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
