Rare Przewalski's horses were recently sighted at the Yumen Pass in Dunhuang city, Gansu province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Rare Przewalski's horses were recently sighted at the Yumen Pass scenic area in Dunhuang, Gansu province.
Yumen Pass, also known as the Jade Gate, was an important station on the ancient Silk Road. Its cultural heritage and natural environment restored in recent years.
Rare Przewalski's horses were recently sighted at the Yumen Pass in Dunhuang city, Gansu province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Przewalski's horses, also known as the Mongolian or Asian wild horses, are among the world's rarest equine species, with about 700 remaining in China and an estimated global population of 2,000.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature listed Przewalski's horses as endangered in 2014. China followed suit in 2021 by designating them a Class I protected species, the country's highest level of protection.
Rare Przewalski's horses were recently sighted at the Yumen Pass in Dunhuang city, Gansu province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Native to the grass-covered semi-deserts and plains of Central Asia, the species typically measures about 2.8 meters long, stands 1.2 meters tall at the shoulder and weighs between 200 and 300 kilograms. Compared to domestic horses, Przewalski's horses are stockier, with shorter legs, a thick neck and a stiff, upright mane.
These horses live in herds led by a dominant male and primarily graze on grass, shrubs and fruit, occasionally feeding on bark, leaves and buds.
Rare Przewalski's horses were recently sighted at the Yumen Pass in Dunhuang city, Gansu province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Visitors to the scenic area during this year's Spring Festival were given a unique opportunity to witness these rare animals roaming and foraging freely.
The park plans to intensify conservation efforts, ensuring a safer and more sustainable habitat for the species, alongside other rare wildlife such as yellow sheep.
Liu Boqian contributed to this story.
