By Xue Chaohua in Lanzhou and Jin Zhu in Beijing (China Daily)
“Its ‘Feel Good Sunday’ and whenever I read or hear of horses being “released” instead of “captured” it always gives me a good feeling, to say the least. The stories of wild Takhi being reintroduced into the wild by Mongolia, Russia and now China has interested Terry and myself as we feel the United States may find itself in the same position, very soon, as our government removes and warehouses the last of our free roaming while equines. This past July Terry and I traveled to Mongolia to witness the fruits of their reintroduction effort, if you have not read the brief recounting of our adventures you can do so in the Sept. issue of trueCOWBOY Magazine by clicking (HERE). Enjoy your day!” ~ R.T.
While U.S. Destroys It’s Wild Herds other Countries Attempt to Reintroduce Theirs
Captive Przewalski’s horses are released into the wild in Dunhuang, Gansu province. Zhang Yongsheng / for China Daily
A herd of 21 highly-endangered Przewalski’s horses were released into the National Nature Reserve in Dunhuang in Northwest China’s Gansu province on Sept. 16th, as part of efforts to replenish the animal’s numbers in the wild.
The release follows a successful trial that turned seven horses loose in the same area in 2010.
“So far, everything goes well. All the horses have adapted to their new home and none have health problems,” said Sun Zhicheng, an official from the nature reserve.
The horses underwent a series of physical examinations when they arrived in Dunhuang on Tuesday after traveling more than 10 hours by road from Wuwei of Gansu, he said.
The Przewalski’s horse, with its stocky body and short neck, is the only true living species of wild horse. The rare species, which was once common on the Eurasia continent, was last seen in the wild in 1969. Its dwindling numbers have been blamed on human activity.
At present, there are more than 1,000 Przewalski’s horses kept in zoos around the world. In the 1980s, China reintroduced the horse from foreign countries, including the United States and Germany, according to the Gansu Endangered Animal Protection Center under the State Forestry Administration.
In the 1980s the number of captive Przewalski’s horses in the center was only 18, there are now 75, including the 21 returned to the wild.
About 300 such horses are now also kept captive in Gansu and the neighboring Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, according to the center.
“We have taken into full consideration the future reproduction of the horses. The 21 released horses included four males, eight females and nine are immature,” said Zhao Chongxue, deputy director of the center.
“I’m full of confidence for the survival of the 21 horses in the wild, as a previous experimental release of seven horses in 2010 was successful. Today, all of those seven horses are healthy and strong in the wild and a little horse was born in July,” he said.
But professionals are worried that decreased water in the nature reserve due to years of exploitation of groundwater may pose a threat to the horses living in the wild.
“We dug 10 new springs this year to satisfy those horses and will break ice in winter to ensure their water supply,” Sun said.
At present, the ancient horse’s survival and reproduction rates in the wild are not high, said Sun Quanhui, an official from the World Society for the Protection of Animals, headquartered in London.
“Long captivity and rather close blood relations among the horses returned to the wild meant it was not easy for them to survive for a long time. So far, there is no stable population of Przewalski’s horses in the wild anywhere in the world,” he said.
Other countries, such as Russia and Mongolia, are also striving to return the horses to the wild, he said.
“Although the horses are precious, they have not attracted as much attention as pandas in China up to now. The country needs to give more support to try to save this rare horse species,” he said.
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- Raw Video Update: The Takhi, Wild Horses of Mongolia (rtfitchauthor.com)
- Wild Horse DC Posse Delivers Goods (rtfitchauthor.com)
- Update: WHFF Founders Carry “Stop the Wild Horse & Burro Stampedes” Message to DC (rtfitchauthor.com)
Categories: Horse News, Wild Horses/Mustangs
Straight from the Horse's Heart 
Thanks R. T. Continue the fight. Perhaps contacting the Romney Campaign would further the cause for our pecious Wild Horses/Burrows. Ms. Romney is a “horsewomen…”
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In a few more years we will be doing the same thing here in the U.S.
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Beware the Romney campaign…Paul Ryan’s voting record on animal issues is dismal at best. He voted against the continued protection of our wild horses and burros. He also voted against protecting critical habitat for endangered species and against the animal rights legislation. The Humane Society gave his voting record a score of 13…Pathetic!
R. T. and Terry thanks for keeping the information flowing and fighting for the horses
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Couldn’t agree more.
Ryan’s environment voting record
* Pro selling millions of acres of federal land & federal assets. (Apr 2012)
Voted NO on $2 billion more for Cash for Clunkers program. (Jul 2009)
* Voted NO on protecting free-roaming horses and burros. (Jul 2009)
Voted NO on environmental education grants for outdoor experiences. (Sep 2008)
Voted NO on $9.7B for Amtrak improvements and operation thru 2013. (Jun 2008)
Voted NO on increasing AMTRAK funding by adding $214M to $900M. (Jun 2006)
Voted NO on barring website promoting Yucca Mountain nuclear waste dump. (May 2006)
Voted YES on deauthorizing “critical habitat” for endangered species. (Sep 2005)
Voted YES on speeding up approval of forest thinning projects. (Nov 2003)
* Rated 10% by the LCV, indicating anti-environment votes. (Dec 2003)
Inter-state compact for Great Lakes water resources. (Jul 2008)
Make tax deduction permanent for conservation easements. (Mar 2009)
* Rated 13% by HSLF, indicating an anti-animal welfare voting record. (Jan 2012)
Strengthen prohibitions against animal fighting. (Jan 2007)
http://votesmart.org/candidate/key-votes/26344/#.UFa9KlQeWh4
here is Ken Salazar record:
According to Project Vote Smart, Ken Salazar received a 25 percent vote rating for 2007 by the Humane Society of the United States, a zero percent vote rating for 2005-2006 by Fund for Animals, a 60 percent vote rating for 2007 by Defenders of Wildlife, and a zero percent vote rating on the Animal Welfare Institute Compassion Index. He also supported the Bush Administration’s release of lands in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) for emergency haying in Colorado’s Yuma and Phillips Counties. Salazar has an 81 percent lifetime rating from the League of Conservation Voters, including a 100 percent rating for the year 2008.
They are both horses, other animals and the environment enemies 😦
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Mrs. Romney is a “horsewoman” of $100,000 show horses. I see no record of their donating to non-profit horse rescue.
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Interesting. Communist China is digging wells, springs for wild equines and the BLM is fencing them off.
Please note the reported reproduction rate of the previously seven released as stated by the Communist Chinese Government representative. Maybe the DOI, USDA and states whacking wild equines in the US need to go to China for a class in wild equine reproduction and basic math….on an abacus no less.
I’m not a fan of Communist China, but I’m starting to be less of a fan of the US.
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Reblogged this on STOP ANIMAL ABUSE and commented:
Can’t beat the sound of galloping hooves; when you know their not running from humans!!
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Reblogged this on Ann Novek–With the Sky as the Ceiling and the Heart Outdoors.
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Since I was a kid and learning the horse breeds I have followed what i could on these wonderful little horses right along with our own wild horses. What irony to have to continue banging our heads on the walls of gov’mint to save our wild ones!
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