(CN) Winter catches wild horses on the hoof

[Guest guest]

China Daily

http://www1.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/2002-01-04/50469.html

(LI JING)

01/04/2002

 

It was a tragic setback to efforts by ecologists to re introduce wild horses

back to their natural habitat. But the death of a one-year-old mare may

paradoxically be part of the first faltering steps of the species towards

long-term survival.

Scientists said the mare - one of the first group of artificially bred wild

horses set free four months ago - had succumbed to cold and starvation in

Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

 

Cao Jie, head of the Xinjiang Wild Horse Breeding and Research Centre, said

a cold front pounding the northern part of Xinjiang which sent temperatures

plummeting to -40 C presented the sternest test of the horses' survival.

 

Wild horses are an endangered species with fewer than 1,000 alive in the

world. On August 28, the first 27 wild horses raised in captivity were sent

back to their natural habitat at the Kala Maili Natural Reserve in Xinjiang.

 

Another group of artificially bred wild horses would be released into the

wild next spring if most of the first group showed they could survive and

live by themselves.

 

" In the long run, re introduction to nature is the only way to conserve the

species, " said Zhu Fude, director of the Wildlife and Plant Conservation

Office with the local forestry bureau.

 

The latest report from the monitoring stations at Kala Maili said there were

four more wild horses in a weak condition which were now receiving special

help with food and water.

 

Zhu said fodder had been scattered for the horses in areas with especially

harsh conditions. If that fails, all the horses will be brought back to

stables until the severe winter ends and they get strong enough to return to

the wild.

 

" The horses' survival capabilities - such as speed, alertness, and sense of

orientation - have improved to some extent, " said Zhu. " From this

perspective, it proves to be a success.

 

" I am sorry for the dead mare but the cost is unavoidable. After all, it is

the first time we have sent artificially bred wild horses back to the wild

and there is no experience to follow. "

 

Huge herds of Xinjiang wild horses lived in the area 60 million years ago,

but the population declined remarkably and finally vanished, owing to

rampant poaching by adventurers in the mid-19th century.