The Takh is the last surviving ancestor of the modern domestic horse. Also known as Przewalski's Horse, the species once roamed the steppe of Central Asia and Europe, but since 1968 has been extinct in the wild. Hustai National Park's Takhi re-introduction project is part of a world-wide initiative to return the highly endangered species to its Mongolian homeland.

At the time of the Takhi's extinction in the wild, only about 150 specimens were left in zoos and animal parks. These Takhi were all derived from just 13 individual animals who were taken from the wild and bred successfully in captivity. By 1977, Takhi had been in captivity for 11 generations without the introduction of new blood. While their numbers had risen to 250, they were facing two major inter-related problems: inbreeding and genetic weakness. Because the Takhi were scattered in zoos across the world, and with no movement between them, populations were becoming increasingly inbred and genetic defects were developing. Some Takhi began to show signs of the hereditary genetic disease Ataxia which causes a weakening of the hindquarters and results in the animal dragging its rear legs. In the wild, Takhi with Ataxia would be unable to run fast enough to avoid predators and would perish before breeding. Action was needed to save the species from total extinction.

Formation of the Foundation for the Preservation and Protection of the Przewalski's Horse

In 1977, chances for the survival of the Takhi became brighter with the establishment of the Foundation for the Preservation and Protection of the Przewalski's Horse (FPPPH) in the Netherlands by Jan and Inge Bouman.

The foundation took responsibility for the management of the Takhi Studbook, a record of the complete genetic history of each Takhi. It issued regular bulletins about new foals and stimulated international cooperation between Takhi breeders. The ultimate goal of FPPPH was to see the Takhi re-established on the Central Asian steppe.

The Takhi had been in captivity for so long that they were beginning to show signs of domestication. To maximise their chances of survival in the wild, a plan was formulated to increase genetic fitness and adaptability to changed environments in semi-reserves before their release. The Foundation Reserves for the Przewalski Horse (FRPH) was formed in 1980 by the Dutch World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and FPPPH. The first semi-reserve was established at Nature Park Lelystad in the Netherlands, where genetically diverse Takhi from all over the world were able to adapt to living in large open territories. In the park, the animals had to search for their own food and raise offspring in a more natural social context. There are now six large semi-wild reserves in Germany and the Netherlands. The best adapted second-generation Takhi from these reserves were chosen to be the first Takhi released back into the wild.

Choosing a re-introduction site

The question was where the Takhi could be released, with undisturbed steppe being one of the most threatened biospheres in Central Asia. In 1986, a joint expedition between FRPH and the Institute of Evolutionary Morphology and Ecology of the Academy of Science in Moscow investigated 15 possible reserve sites throughout Central Asia, including areas of the Ukraine and Mongolia. They searched for a site that would fulfill all the habitat requirements of the Takhi with year-round availability of permanent water, food and shelter. Domestic stock and particularly domestic horses could not be present, but the presence of indigenous grazers such as Ibex, Maral deer and Mongolian gazelle and predators (wolf, lynx, Manul cat) would indicate a healthy balanced ecosystem. The undisturbed mountain steppe area of Hustai Nuruu was selected as the most suitable site for the future re-establishment of a wild population of Takhi.

In 1990, after much negotiation, an agreement of cooperation was signed between FRPH, the Mongolian Association for Conservation of Nature and Environment (MACNE), the Governor of Töv province and representatives from Altanbulag, Bayankhangai and Argalant soums (districts) who owned the land on which Hustain Nuruu was situated. On March 2, 1991 the Mongolian Government endorsed the project and appointed MACNE to manage Hustai Nuruu and the Takhi re-introduction project.

The first Takhi arrive back in Mongolia

The first transport of 16 Takhi arrived at Ulaanbaatar Airport on July 5th, 1992 and was greeted by hundreds of people.

Mongolia had gained its independence from Soviet influence less than two years before and now one of its best loved icons had returned home. For the old herdsmen it was the return of a treasured symbol of the past, while for the younger generation, it was the materialisation of the mythical horse from their folklore. For conservationists, it was a keystone species whose re-introduction would help protect other endangered species at Hustai National Park and raise general awareness of environmental issues in Mongolia. But for MACNE, FRPH and for Jan and Inge Bouman, it was the realization of a dream.

In Mongolian takh means spirit. The Republic of Mongolia had regained its spirit.

The 16 Takhi, eight from the Dutch semi-reserves and eight from Askania Nova Reserve in the Ukraine, were released into two acclimatisation areas (each 60ha) to allow them to adapt to their new home. In June 1994, after two years of acclimitisation, the harems lead by stallions Khaan and Patron were allowed to leave their enclosures and become the first Takhi in 26 years to range free on the Mongolia steppe.

There have now been 84 Takhi re-introduced to the park from semi-reserves in the Netherlands, Germany and the Ukraine.

The Takhi have adjusted well to Mongolia's harsh climate and threats from predators. Each year, new foals boost the population which as of September 2001 had reached 109.

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