Kazakhstan brings back its endangered Przewalski’s horses
A vanished species is returning to Kazakhstan’s vast grasslands, symbolising a broader effort to restore the country’s natural and cultural heritage.
In partnership with MDQ
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00:00A symbol of freedom, pride and the vast step.
00:06If you ask Kazakhs what truly defines their spirit,
00:09many will point to the one thing, the horse.
00:12In this episode of Modern Nomads,
00:14we explore how one animal became the heart of nomadic life
00:18and how its legacy still shapes the country's culture.
00:23There is only one genetically wild horse left in the world,
00:26the Przhovaskis horse.
00:28It went extinct in the wild in the 20th century
00:31with only a few surviving in captivity.
00:33After years of conservation work in Europe,
00:35these horses are finally returned to their natural habitat.
00:41Centuries after vanishing from Central Asia,
00:43the Przhovaskis horses have returned home.
00:46Their range reduction is a milestone for the whole nomadic world.
00:49Now Kazakhstan's golden step shines again.
00:52Welcome to Modern Nomads.
00:58The reintroduction of wild horses took place in the Kostanay region
01:01and we travelled there to witness the first horses
01:04being released back into the steppe.
01:07How many of the Przhovaskis horses have been reintroduced to Kazakhstan so far?
01:11As of now, 14 Przhovaskis horses have been brought from Europe.
01:15This is our joint target that we aim to have these horses
01:20because we have really good grasslands here.
01:23What I said is also the climate is actually suitable for them.
01:26If you look on the map, you can see it's a big protected areas network
01:30which also gives hope that its animals will be safe.
01:34And we hope that they will start to give the offspring
01:37and this will start his future.
01:41The historical return of Przhovaskis horses
01:43is part of the Altantala conservation initiative.
01:47Thank you very much.
02:12Forty more Prezhevalskijs horses will be transported from Europe to Kazakhstan by 2029.
02:18Now, at the Alibi Reintroduction Center, experts are watching closely how the current herd adapts to life in the wild.
02:26When they arrive to the Alibi Reintroduction Center, they spend roughly a year within acclimatization.
02:33And all of them have a natural water source, which is really important because they have to 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 apparently 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 years, 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 now, a whole population will grow.
03:05Studies of the ancient Bautai culture show that the world's first domesticated horse was tamed on the steppes of modern-day Kazakhstan.
03:12We have such a good precondition of returning Prezhevalski horses to this area and also kind of an obligation because this is such a central and important animal for the Kazakh identity,
03:24being place of first domestication of the horses 5,000 years ago.
03:30The bond between human and horse still runs deep.
03:33It's not uncommon for Kazakh children to take the saddle before taking their first steps.
03:38And when they reach school age, they're already competing in major races.
03:42The 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 together 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.
04:08The 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.
04:18For 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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