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 Asian wild horses were extinct in the wild by the mid-1970s. The remaining captive population is based on only 14 founders. Reintroduction projects are underway in Mongolia, Kazakhstan, and China. The most significant obstacles to reintroduction are: (a) interbreeding with domestic horses; (b) poaching; (c) poor habitat due to livestock competition; and (d) high winter mortality.
China’s Wild Horse Breeding Center (WHBC) has been developing a captive breeding population of wild horses since the mid-1980s. Several transfers of horses from the U.S., England, and Germany, followed by successful captive breeding, have allowed the herd to grow to more than 100 animals. Twenty-six horses were released in Kalameili Reserve in the Gobi Desert in 2001. Although several horses from the initial release died (after a harsh winter) the remaining population has since reproduced and appears healthy. A second release is planned.
 In 2006, the Minnesota Zoo provided funds to purchase a GPS satellite radio collar to allow tracking of one of the released horses in collaboration with the Smithsonian’s National Zoo’s tracking project. We are also in the process of importing breeding mares from Europe which will be used to breed foals that will eventually be given to this release project in China. Two of these mares will come to the Minnesota Zoo for breeding.
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