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Przewalski's horse—adaptation to semi-wild life in desert conditions

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 April 2009

O. B. Pereladova ,
A. J. Sempéeré ,
N. V. Soldatova ,
V. U. Dutov ,
G. Fisenko  and
V. E. Flint
O. B. Pereladova*
Affiliation:
All-Russia Research Institute of Nature Conservation, Sadki-Znamenskoye, Vilar, Moscow 113628, Russia.
A. J. Sempéeré
Affiliation:
Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, CNRS, F-79360, Villier en Bois, France. E-mail: sempere@glasnet.ru
N. V. Soldatova
Affiliation:
Ecocenter ‘Goitred gazelle’, Bukhara, Cagan 705014, Uzbekistan.
V. U. Dutov
Affiliation:
Ecocenter ‘Goitred gazelle’, Bukhara, Cagan 705014, Uzbekistan.
G. Fisenko
Affiliation:
Faculty of Biology, Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia.
V. E. Flint
Affiliation:
All-Russia Research Institute of Nature Conservation, Sadki-Znamenskoye, Vilar, Moscow 113628, Russia.
*
CNRS, 14 Goubkina str., App. 109, Moscow 117312, Russia. E-mail: olga@perelad.msk.ru
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Abstract

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In 1989 an experiment was started at the Bukhara Breeding Centre, Kyzylkum Desert, Uzbekistan, to discover whether zoo-bred Przewalski's horses Equus przewalskiicould adapt to semi-wild desert conditions. One stallion and four mares of different ages were released into a 5126-ha fenced area and monitored over a period of 17 years. This paper presents the information gained from the studies concerning home ranges, interactions with other ungulate species, adaptation to new food resources and comparative changes in daily activity. The results of breeding and changes in the structure of the group are also presented. The horses appeared to adapt well to the new conditions and there appeared to be no negative effects of interspecific interaction with introduced kulans Equus hemionus kulan in the release area.

Keywords

AdaptationsecologyPrzewalski's horsereintroduction
Type
Research Article
Information
Oryx , Volume 33 , Issue 1 , January 1999 , pp. 47 - 58
Copyright
Copyright © Fauna and Flora International 1999

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