The first Przewalski's horse foal was born on August 22 in the Altyn Dala State Nature Reserve in Kostanay Region. This is the first offspring of animals brought to Kazakhstan under a program to reintroduce the species into the wild, reports infohub.kz.
The foal was born at the Alibi Wild Ungulate Reintroduction Center. It is male. Shortly after birth, it stood on its own and followed its mother.
According to the ministry, the foal and the mare are doing well.
"The birth of the foal is an important result of the reintroduction program and demonstrates the successful adaptation of the animals to the natural conditions of the Kazakh steppe," the Ministry of Ecology said.
The foal's mother is a seven-year-old mare named Tessa. She was brought to Kazakhstan in 2024 from Berlin's Tierpark. This is her first offspring.
Currently, the foal is with its mother and other horses. Specialists continue to monitor their condition and behavior.
The Przewalski's horse, or kerkulan, is considered the last surviving species of wild horse in Eurasia. In the 20th century, it disappeared from the wild, but the species was preserved thanks to breeding in zoos.
The program to return the Przewalski's horse to Kazakhstan began in 2024. At that time, seven animals were delivered to the Altyn Dala reserve. Another seven were brought in 2025 and eight in 2026.
By 2029, about 40 horses are planned to be brought to Kazakhstan. The goal of the program is to create a sustainable population that can reproduce independently in the wild.