THIRD COHORT OF PRZEWALSKI’S HORSES ARRIVES IN THE KAZAKH STEPPE

At the beginning of this month, the historic rewilding of Central Kazakhstan’s grasslands reached another major milestone as the third cohort of endangered Przewalski’s horses successfully arrived from European breeding facilities to reintroduction site in the Altyn Dala Reservat. Our colleague Anne Dohrmann (Frankfurt Zoological Society) accompanied four of the animals on their epic journey.

 

June 4, 2026

Germany, Tierpark Berlin, 4:00 a.m.

The morning twilight hangs over the veterinary clinic at the zoological garden “Tierpark Berlin”. Apart from the first blackbirds, silence still reigns over the city. Nevertheless, vehicles are already rolling into the courtyard: today is a special day, and it begins early. Four Przewalski’s horses are embarking on the long journey from Berlin to the “Alibi” reintroduction center in Central Kazakhstan. It is the third transport of wild horses from Europe to Kazakhstan, and the second time a group of animals is departing from Berlin.

Only few days earlier, four stallions already completed their own transfer to Kazakhstan. They started from Zoo Prague in Czech Republic. With the four mares from Berlin, the annual cohort of eight translocated individuals will be complete for 2026.

Tension fills the air as the zoo team gathers at the wild horses’ quarantine enclosure, joined by journalists and colleagues from Prague Zoo. The veterinarians prepare their equipment. At 5:00 a.m., it begins: a shot from the blowpipe, and the tranquilizer dart hits its mark.
“Togs” is the first mare to enter her transport crate, still a bit dazed after the final sample collection under full anaesthesia. The young mare was born in Great Britain and carries genetic traits that are valuable for the new population in Kazakhstan. The strategic selection of individuals for the reintroduction is centrally coordinated at Prague Zoo.

With practiced ease, the team loads the four selected animals into the narrow crates where they will spend the next 34 hours. The horses’ range of motion is very limited inside, for their own safety. It prevents the wild animals from injuring themselves during the journey.

At 9:30 a.m., the convoy sets off and creeps through Berlin’s morning traffic toward the airport. Our plane, a military aircraft provided by the Czech Air Force is already waiting for us. The four-person crew in green overalls and sunglasses could just as easily be on the set of Top Gun, but they’re standing on the tarmac in Berlin, maneuvering the four horse crates precisely into the cargo hold. There’s just enough space left on the sides for us: eight people will accompany the animals to Kazakhstan this year.

Finally, the engines start up and the ground begins to vibrate. “Shara” shifts her hooves restlessly. The plane shoots forward, then upward—we’re flying! Berlin is getting smaller and smaller behind us.

The flight is only one part of the journey, but for the horses, it is the biggest challenge: some animals are sensitive to the constant engine noise and changes in air pressure. To support their circulation, the entire cabin is cooled to 15°C, and fans ensure good air circulation. Temperature sensors in each stall display the temperature directly at the animal’s location. Moving around the plane is an adventure: numerous straps crisscross the cargo hold to further secure the crates. Luggage is stacked along the sides, and somewhere in between, the crew and passengers find space.

“Bela” from Nuremberg Zoo and “Theresa” from Berlin Zoo stand calmly in their crates, while “Shara” and “Togs” nervously toss their heads and express their displeasure with kicks. To calm them down, we pass hay through the small openings at the head of the crates. Gray horse lips eagerly take it and quickly nibble it up. It is important that they stand as still as possible and conserve their energy, for the journey is still long. The flight alone, including two layovers in Istanbul and Baku, takes nearly 13 hours! Even 4,000 meters above the earth, our focus remains constantly on the horses—the view from the window, with towering clouds passing by and cities sparkling far below, remains surreal until we arrive.

June 5, 2026
Kazakhstan, Qostanai Airport, 6:30 a.m. local time

For the third and final time on this journey, the small aircraft begins its descent. We have reached our destination airport: Qostanai in Kazakhstan. A large team is waiting for us here to accompany us for the remainder of the journey. The quiet tension in the aircraft hold ends as soon as we come to a stop on the runway: when the doors open, a flurry of activity ensues. At the same time, government officials check all documents, the passengers’ passports, and the contents of all luggage. The horses in their crates are expertly loaded onto off-road trucks. The airport’s billboards prominently display: “Return of the Wild Horses to Kazakhstan.” Just under an hour after arrival, we’re on the road again: now the final leg of the trip begins—560 km overland to the “Alibi” reintroduction center in the Altyn Dala Nature Reserve.

Dark clouds hang over the steppe today. Every now and then, rain pelts against the windshield in thick drops. The “bad” weather is a true blessing for us: This way, we don’t have to worry about the horses overheating in their crates. Finally, we reach the end of the paved road network. It is now 4 p.m. We have been on the road for 31 hours. Just under three more lie ahead of us.

Despite the rain, the steppe tracks leading to the reintroduction center are firm, and our caravan thunders purposefully forward. Thick clouds of dust swirl behind each vehicle, announcing our approaching from afar. And suddenly we’re there: passing enclosures where wild horses from previous transports are already bolting from the noise of the engines, we drive to the area selected for the Berlin mares.

A crane lifts the crates from the truck bed and carefully sets them down on the steppe. The sun is already sinking toward the horizon. Anticipation mixes with worry on the faces of those present: in what condition will these wild horses leave their boxes?

As the crates open, every worry turns to pure relief. “Togs” leaps from her crate, her movements smooth and strong. Incredible resilience lies in her powerful entrance. The other three mares are also doing well. They immediately greet one another, resting their heads together in an expression of familiar security. The relief over a successful arrival in Alibi is shared across species. In mutual appreciation, we exchange congratulations and hugs—communication has never been so easy: at this moment, the entire team on the steppe, representing six nations, speaks the same language.

For Shara, Togs, Theresa, and Bela, the real adventure begins now. They are pioneers in the homeland of their ancestors. Together with translocated individuals from European herds, they will form the nucleus for a new population of the last true wild horses on our planet in the endless expanses of Kazakhstan. We’ll be there with them—until their story is once again etched with hoofprints in the sand of the Golden Steppe.

The Return of Wild Horses to Central Kazakhstan is a partnership project lead by Zoo Prague in partnership with the Altyn Dala Conservation Initiative, the Committee for Forestry and Wildlife of the Kazakh Government, Tierpark Berlin, Hortobágy National Park, Tiergarten Nürnberg, and the Leibniz Institute for Zoo- and Wildlife Research.

Pictures by: Petr Jan Juracka and Oliver le Que (Prague Zoo); Abduaziz Madyarov (ACBK)