Przewalski's Horse
| Przewalski's Horse | |
|---|---|
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Perissodactyla |
| Family: | Equidae |
| Genus: | Equus |
| Subgenus: | Equus |
| Species: | E. ferus |
| Subspecies: | E. f. przewalskii |
| Trinomial name | |
| Equus ferus przewalskii (Poliakov, 1881) |
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| Range map | |
The Przewalski's horse (Equus przewalskii or E. caballus przewalskii), also known as the Mongolian Wild Horse, or Takhi, is the closest living relative of the Domestic Horse. They may in fact be the same species. Scientists disagree about the correct classification. The two are the only equids that can cross-breed and produce fertile offspring.
As of 2002, the world population of these horses was about 1,000. All off them are descended from about 15 animals. They were caught around 1900 and kept in zoos. The wild population in Mongolia died out in the 1960s. Horses born in zoos were returned to the wild starting in 1992. They live in one area. It became Hustai National Park in 1998.
In Zoos [change]
According to ISIS, about 480 Przewalski's were reported in captivity.
References [change]
- ↑ "An extraordinary return from the brink of extinction for worlds last wild horse" ZSL Living Conservation, December 19, 2005.
