49 hours, 2193 kilometers, 24 kulans – and a team defying the odds. October 2024 marked a breakthrough in the kulan reintroduction program to the Torgai steppe. Not only did we quadruple the kulan population in the Torgai steppe, we secured the long term future of the translocation of this species. In order for the translocation work to be a long-term success, we needed to demonstrate that we could transport more animals and in a way that has not been attempted before. For the first time ever, a road transport of wild caught kulans from “Altyn Emel” National Park to the Torgai steppe was attempted, one of the longest wild animal transports ever attempted. It is with great pride, and a certain amount of relief, that we announce a 100% successful transportation, with no injuries or fatalities.

Key to this achievement was several years of intensive preparation. From our transportations in 2017, 2019 and 2022 we built our knowledge and capacity through collaborations, partnerships and often hard-won experience trying various approaches to transporting this notoriously “difficult” equid. This year, together with the highly skilled South African wildlife transportation company “Conservation Solutions”, and veterinarians from “Wild Scapes” and the “Leibniz Institute for Zoo- and Wildlife Research”, we developed a new methodology and risk assessment. We put great effort into the construction of sophisticated transportation containers and special equipment designed to load wild kulans into these containers with minimal manipulation and stress.

In late September it was time to translate theory into action. Our multinational team gathered in Altyn Emel to make the final preparations. Capturing the kulans was the responsibility of the Kazakh state rangers of “Okhotzooprom” and Altyn Emel National Park and their preferred method of a night chase during the new moon was successful. 70 Asiatic wild asses were caught during the nights of 29^th and 30^th September. While we waited for the particularly strong winds to settle, our designated group for transportation, 14 beautiful kulan mares and 10 foals, stayed calmly in a holding corral. The actual loading process was quick and smooth – once inside the containers, our veterinarians injected every animal with a “long-acting neuroleptic”, which is a drug commonly used to ease stress and anxiety. With the last rays of sun, the caravan then set off on its long journey, halfway across the ninth largest country in the world. With stops only to water the calmly enduring kulans and to mend the trucks where necessary, the total time travelled amounted to 49,5h. The video surveillance we had set up in each container showed the kulans resting, and feeding on the hay provided. The foals were even observed suckling. Upon arrival to Alibi, all 24 kulan, without exception, stepped swiftly and unharmed into their 52,7-ha acclimatization enclosure.

The following day, it was noted that the group was quick to reassemble. At least three of the foals are with their mothers, and so far, no signs of internal aggression or tension have been seen. The group is clearly led by one specific mare and her foal, without there having been any fights to form this hierarchy. All these signs indicate that an established social group was transported, which is a positive precondition to their long-term ability to adapt to a new environment and grow a sustainable population. The first two weeks of acclimatization for these animals is the most critical time, and we may yet see the effects of the transport emerge; we have intensive monitoring on site around the clock to spot any anomalies.

 

And there’s even more good news!

In addition to the newcomers from Altyn Emel, the free-roaming kulans of the Torgai steppe have had offspring in 2024:

 

Born to be wild: two kulan foals in Torgai steppe

Two wild-born kulan foals grace the Torgai steppe since May 2024. It is the first recorded kulan offspring in the wilderness of Central Kazakhstan since the species’ local extinction in 1930.

The foals were met with great anticipation as mating had been observed last year inside the acclimatization enclosure, and two mares were considered pregnant during the observations in March. We are thrilled to confirm this important generational milestone in the kulan reintroduction program. “The continued successful births and sightings of newborn kulans outside of a confined environment demonstrate the resilience of this fascinating species and the positive trend of our reintroduction efforts.”, says Albert Salemgareyev, the leading kulan specialist at ACBK.  

Both foals’ mothers are reintroduced mares who were equipped with GPS collars prior to their release in summer 2023. The free-roaming animals are regularly being checked upon by the local ranger teams. This is a challenging task, as kulan melt exceptionally well into their steppe surroundings and are quick to escape from any disturbance. Recent patrols finally gave us certainty: the first foal was recorded on 15 July in a kulan group consisting of now four animals, the second in a group of three. Both groups roam the areas under ranger supervision south-west of the reintroduction centre. Due to their size and a temporary stagnation of GPS signals in May, the adorable youngsters were probably two months old at their first sighting.

Stephanie Ward, FZS’s Programme Lead for Kazakhstan, proudly announced: “Each new kulan foal is a testament to the success of our reintroduction efforts. It also highlights how well the Torgai Steppe serves as a suitable habitat for this remarkable species, and that our conservation strategies are paying off.”