In a landmark conservation effort, 28 Przewalski's horses—the world's last surviving wild horse species—are embarking on a 1,000-kilometer journey to reclaim their ancestral home in northwest China. The herd, transported from the Gansu Endangered Animal Protection Center, will soon roam freely in the Dunhuang Xihu National Nature Reserve's restored grasslands.
Once declared extinct in the wild during the 1960s, these resilient equines have staged a remarkable comeback through China's breeding programs since their 1985 reintroduction. Conservationists describe the relocation as a critical step in rebuilding sustainable populations in their natural habitat.
"This migration represents four decades of scientific dedication," said a project coordinator, speaking on condition of anonymity. "Monitoring their adaptation to the reserve's desert ecosystem will shape future rewilding strategies."
The operation highlights growing regional investments in biodiversity, with the Gansu facility having successfully released over 90 horses into protected areas since 2010. Researchers emphasize the species' role in maintaining grassland ecosystems as climate challenges intensify.
