In late May 2026, five Przewalski's horses – one stallion and four mares – from breeding facilities across Europe took their first steps into the wild on the vast plains of the Altyn Dala region in central Kazakhstan. This was a significant milestone for the international reintroduction initiative aimed at returning the species to its ancient habitat. Prior to their release, the horses acclimatised for twelve months at the Wild Equid Reintroduction Center, where they were closely monitored by a team of wildlife veterinarians, biologists and caretakers. Two of the mares have been equipped with satellite collars, which will enable the team to see how well the horses are settling into their new home.

The five Przewalski’s horses (Equus przewalskii) were released on 25 May 2026 from the Alibi Reintroduction Center in Central Kazakhstan. They arrived in Kazakhstan in June 2025 from Wildnispark Zürich in Switzerland and Hortobágy National Park in Hungary. Over the past year, veterinarians, caretakers, and field experts monitored their acclimatisation to the harsh local climate. The group coped well with the extreme winter conditions, learning to dig through heavy snow to find food and locate natural water sources independently. This is the second consecutive year that the team has released Przewalski’s horses from the Reintroduction Center. The repeated successful release provides a solid basis for the arrival of more horses in the long-term project.

Data from satellite collars offers insights into how the horses are settling into their new home
In order to monitor the group’s integration into the region's network of protected corridors in the Altyn Dala region, which covers 40,000 km², two mares were fitted with satellite tracking collars. This technology enables conservationists to safely trace the group's movements, study the horses’ spatial habits and measure their broader environmental impact on the steppe ecosystem, all without disturbing the animals. A preliminary analysis of the collars' tracking data revealed that the release group is still in close proximity to the Reintroduction Center.
To fit the collars, the horses were safely anaesthetised. Specialised wildlife anaesthesia and veterinary expertise play a key role in the mission to reintroduce Przewalski’s horses to the steppe. This release brings the team of scientists and conservationists closer to establishing a self-sustaining population of the world’s last truly wild horse in Central Kazakhstan. As keystone herbivores, their return is a key event for the ecosystem that could help restore the ecological health of Central Asia’s grasslands. The expected and hoped-for positive effects involve restoring native vegetation, mitigating desertification and reducing the intensity of seasonal wildfires through their natural grazing habits.

Statements

Albert Salemgareyev – Association for the Conservation of Biodiversity of Kazakhstan (ACBK):
“The collaring is the final critical step before release, following a year of acclimatisation. Everyone involved was delighted and relieved that this veterinary procedure was successful. It was wonderful to see how quickly the mares recovered and how well they looked after the anaesthesia. They stood up nicely and started eating grass and drinking water soon afterwards, which is a good sign.”
Julia Bohner – Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (Leibniz-IZW):
“The horses are extremely shy and keep their distance from humans. For collaring, we needed to get close. To achieve this, the caretakers placed food in the separation enclosures for several days to lure them in. Finally, we were lucky and the horses came inside. We were then able to close the gates and begin the procedure. During the anaesthesia, we supported the horses with oxygen and intravenous fluids, and monitored them closely throughout the entire procedure. At the same time, we carried out a final health check: We collected samples, examined the teeth, corrected the hooves if needed, administered medication and fitted the satellite collars. Good preparation and teamwork are essential to keep the anaesthesia time as short as possible.”
Michael Brombacher – Frankfurt Zoological Society:
“200 years ago, Przewalski’s horses disappeared from this landscape. The Altyn Dala Conservation Initiative together with its partners are working on protecting and restoring this unique steppe ecosystem. This also includes bringing the large herbivores such as Przewalski’s horses and Kulans back to their original habitat. We must always remember how huge the costs and efforts are to bring back species that have become extinct in the wild. Protecting nature before such losses occur is always cheaper and more effective than trying to reverse them. It is nevertheless a pure joy to witness the success of our long-term mission and see Prewalski’s horses – once again – taking their first steps into the wilderness of the steppe.”

About the partnership

This reintroduction program is coordinated by an international coalition including the Prague Zoo, the Committee for Forestry and Wildlife of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Association for the Conservation of Biodiversity of Kazakhstan (ACBK), the Frankfurt Zoological Society (FZS), the Nuremberg Zoo, Tierpark Berlin, and Hortobágy National Park.
On-the-ground management, veterinary support, and ecological monitoring are driven by the Altyn Dala Conservation Initiative alongside the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (Leibniz-IZW). Founded in 2005 to protect and restore Kazakhstan's unique steppe ecosystems, the Altyn Dala Conservation Initiative was recognized as a UN World Restoration Flagship in 2023 and honoured with the Earthshot Prize in 2024. The long-term goal of the partnership is to bring 40–45 wild horses to the Turgai steppes by 2029.