Return of the Wild Horses is a project led by Prague Zoo to help protect Przewalski's horses in their natural home in Mongolia. The goal is to grow the population of these horses and increase the variety of their genes, which helps them survive better. The project continues past efforts in Europe by moving horses born in captivity to large protected areas in Mongolia. It also gives supplies to Mongolian rangers who watch over the horses in the Great Gobi B Strictly Protected Area. Since 2011, Prague Zoo has sent horses from the Czech Republic to Mongolia each year. This work helped increase the number of wild horses in Khomyn Tal by 34 animals.

Development of the project

Prague Zoo has been in charge of the international Przewalski's horse studbook since 1959. In 1997, it began helping with reintroduction programs in Mongolia, sending four horses to Takhin Tal Nature Reserve and Khustain Nuruu National Park. The zoo displays and breeds Przewalski's horses in Prague. It also maintains a main group of these horses at its Przewalski's Horse Breeding and Acclimatization Facility in Dolní Dobřejov, which is located in the Střezimíř municipality.

In 2006, the management office of Great Gobi B Strictly Protected Area opened. It started working with Prague Zoo, which continues to provide supplies like satellite phones, GPS devices, microscopes, binoculars, off-road vehicles, motorcycles, guardhouses, hay storage buildings, diesel generators, and a well to help manage the protected area. In 2007, Prague Zoo became part of the International Takhi Group.

Horses chosen for release come from European zoos and from the main group in Dobřejov. Each year, four of these horses are placed in special containers, driven to an airport, transported by a Czech Army cargo plane to Mongolia, and then taken by truck to their final location. After spending time in an acclimatization pen, the horses are released into the wild. The project receives support from the Czech Army, Czech Development Agency, Czech and Mongolian embassies, public donations, and money from Prague Zoo ticket sales.

Yearly transports of horses

In 2011, the first four Przewalski's horses were moved to Khomyn Tal. All later transports have gone to Great Gobi B Strictly Protected Area. A total of 34 Przewalski's horses from the Czech Republic have been reintroduced so far. During the eighth Return of the Wild Horses event, Prague Zoo transported four additional horses from Khustain Nuruu National Park near Ulaanbaatar to Takhin Tal Nature Reserve in Gobi B. Today, Great Gobi B Strictly Protected Area is home to more than 270 Przewalski's horses. The transported horses have joined existing herds and have successfully reproduced.