00:00A symbol of freedom, pride and the vast step.
00:06If you ask Kazakhs what truly defines their spirit, many will point to the one thing, the force.
00:12In this episode of Modern Nomads, we explore how one animal became the heart of nomadic life
00:17and how its legacy still shapes the country's culture.
00:22There is only one genetically wild horse left in the world, the Przhevaskis horse.
00:27It went extinct in the wild in the 20th century with only a few surviving in captivity.
00:33After years of conservation work in Europe, these horses are finally returned to their natural habitat.
00:40Centuries after varnishing from Central Asia, the Przhevaskis horses have returned home.
00:45Their range reduction is a milestone for the whole nomadic world.
00:49Now Kazakhstan's golden step shines again.
00:52Welcome to Modern Nomads.
00:57The reintroduction of wild horses took place in the Kostanai region and we travel there to witness the first horses being released back into the steppe.
01:07How many of the Przhevaskis horses have been reintroduced to Kazakhstan so far?
01:11As of now, 14 Przhevaskis horses have been brought from Europe.
01:15This is our joint target that we aim to have these horses because we have really good grasslands here.
01:23What I said is also the climate is actually suitable for them.
01:26If you look at it on the map, you can see it's a big protected areas network which also gives hope that its animals will be safe.
01:35And we hope that they will start to give the offsprings and this will start his future.
01:39The historical return of Przhevaskis horses is part of the Altantala conservation initiative.
01:47Our mission is a great analyst for the city of Kostanai region.
02:172029.
02:18Now, at the Alibi Reintroduction Center, experts are watching closely how the current herd
02:23adopts to life in the wild.
02:26When they arrive to the Alibi Reintroduction Center, they spend roughly a year within
02:31acclimatization.
02:32And all of them have a natural water source, which is really important because they have
02:36to learn how to navigate and how to get to the water.
02:39What we see from the camera traps that we put up, it's really cool because the horses
02:43apparently love it.
02:44Sometimes they even lay down on the water and get themselves muddy.
02:48Seeing these wild horses returning to a landscape where they've been extinct for more than 200
02:53years but where they so obviously belong to is really very touching.
02:57It's amazing just also knowing that from these individuals that we're taking care of right
03:02now, a whole population will grow.
03:06Studies of the ancient Bautai culture show that the world's first domesticated horse was
03:10tamed on the steppes of modern-day Kazakhstan.
03:13We have such a good precondition of returning Chewalski horses to this area and also kind
03:19of an obligation because this is such a central and important animal for the Kazakh identity,
03:24being a place of first domestication of the horses 5,000 years ago.
03:29The bond between human and horse still runs deep.
03:32It's not uncommon for Kazakh children to take the saddle before taking their first steps.
03:38And when they reach school age, they are already competing in major races.
03:44The spirit of nomads still sets the rhythm of Central Asia.
03:48Horseback wrestling, kokpar and archery stand at the core of that legacy, drawing nations
03:53together at the World Nomad Games.
03:56Today, Kazakhstan is reviving its own horse breeding heritage.
04:00In 2023, the Adai horse was officially recognized as a distinct Kazakh breed.
04:05The Adai horse bred near the Caspian Sea is known for its stamina.
04:12We met a family in Mangistau region for whom caring for this rare breed is a precious tradition.
04:17For centuries, Kazakhs have been known as exceptional horse breeders.
04:47Horses carried nomads along the Silk Road, taught generations the art of resilience
04:52and shaped a culture that still gallops the nation's DNA.
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