The astonishing return of the planet's final untamed equines

On a June morning, as cars flowed toward central Prague, a young Przewalskis horse named Wisky unexpectedly broke free from a wooden crate atop a truck and startled drivers on the highway. Wisky, a rare and critically endangered equine species, had been raised for 18 months at the Prague Zoo and was en route to Kazakhstans steppes as part of a groundbreaking initiative to reintroduce Przewalskis horses into the wild. Fortunately, the conservation team quickly managed to sedate Wisky and return him safely to the zoo. Meanwhile, seven other captive-bred Przewalskis horsesthree from Prague and four from Hungarycontinued their journey toward freedom.

Documentary photographer Ami Vitale accompanied the horses throughout the expedition, which spanned more than 2,000 miles. The journey included a flight on a military cargo plane with stops in Turkey and Azerbaijan, followed by eight hours by truck, ultimately reaching the Altyn Dala State Nature Reserve in Central Kazakhstan. There, the horses were released into a vast enclosure, taking their first steps back onto the steppe their ancestors once roamed.

This reintroduction effort is part of the Return of the Wild Horses project, a meticulous program aimed at restoring the species to its historic range after over two centuries in captivity. Przewalskis horses are unique as the only horse species never domesticated, originally inhabiting Central Asias expansive steppes. By the late 19th century, their population was already declining due to hunting and habitat loss, and by 1969, they were declared extinct in the wild. Fewer than 200 remained, all in zoos, descended from just 13 individuals captured before 1948.

In 1990, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) outlined a strategy to save the species, emphasizing genetic diversity and the creation of multiple self-sustaining populations in Mongolia, China, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, and around Lake Baikal. Initial reintroductions began in China and Mongolia in the 1990s. Following a severe winter in 2010 that killed two-thirds of the horses in western Mongolia, the Prague Zoo initiated The Return of the Wild Horses project, using Czech Air Force cargo planes to transport captive-bred horses to Mongolia.

Today, over 1,000 Przewalskis horses live in China and Mongolia. The Prague Zoo has expanded the program to Kazakhstan in collaboration with the Altyn Dala Conservation Initiative, which has protected nearly 20,000 square miles of steppe and savannah. The initiative, supported by Kazakhstans Ministry of Ecology, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Frankfurt Zoological Society, Fauna & Flora International, and the Association for the Conservation of Biodiversity of Kazakhstan, aims to reintroduce 40 horses over five years to create a self-sustaining population.

Last year, seven captive-bred horses were delivered from Prague and Berlin and spent a year in acclimatization enclosures to prepare for Kazakhstans harsh winters, where temperatures can drop to -50F. Vitale documented the release of these horses and the arrival of a new grouporiginally meant to include Wisky before his highway escape. Their release marked the first time in nearly two centuries that Przewalskis horses roamed freely in Central Kazakhstan.

The new group, consisting of horses from Prague and Hungarys Hortobagy National Park, will also spend a year in acclimatization pens before their release. Vitale described the project as a delicate balance of science, logistics, and trusttrust that captive-bred animals can adapt to the wild, that ecosystems can recover, and that species once lost can return.

Wisky, meanwhile, remains at Prague Zoo, thriving and healthy, after his dramatic escape. He will not be part of future releases in Kazakhstan.

Vitale described the journey as both challenging and inspiring, witnessing firsthand the intricate coordination required to transport and release endangered animals across international borders. From sedating a runaway horse on a highway to monitoring animals on long cargo flights, the project demonstrates the immense effort behind conservation work. She emphasized the broader importance of such initiatives, noting that preserving species directly impacts ecosystems and humanitys future.

Returning keystone species like the Przewalskis horse to their native habitats triggers ecosystem regeneration, prompting curiosity and wonder about what else might return. The project illustrates that with collaboration across nations and careful stewardship, humans can help restore balance in nature and protect endangered species for generations to come.

Author: Riley Thompson