Twenty-eight Przewalski's horses embarked on a historic journey across China's Hexi Corridor on September 15, marking a milestone in global wildlife conservation. The endangered equines, transported from the Gansu Wuwei Endangered Species Conservation Center to the Dunhuang West Lake National Nature Reserve, symbolize renewed efforts to restore biodiversity in northwest China.
The 1,000-kilometer relocation route traces the ancient Hexi Corridor, a Silk Road artery connecting Wuwei in the east to Dunhuang in the west. Conservationists describe the move as critical for establishing genetically diverse wild populations of Earth's last truly wild horse species.
"This east-to-west translocation mimics historical migration patterns," explained a reserve representative. "The arid grasslands of Dunhuang provide ideal conditions for rebuilding self-sustaining herds."
The operation highlights China's growing role in species rehabilitation, with Przewalski's horses having been declared extinct in the wild during the 1960s before successful captive breeding initiatives. Researchers will monitor the released herd using satellite tracking collars to study adaptation behaviors.
Nature enthusiasts worldwide can follow the horses' progress through livestream coverage documenting their transition to wild habitats – a rare window into large-scale ecological restoration efforts.
