Galloping across the grassy plains of western
Mongolia, the stallion of a small band of Przewalski's (pronounced per-zhih-VAHL-skeez) horses pauses to sniff the air for danger. These horses are able to detect smell and sound from great distances. Flicking his tail and moving forward, the stallion signals to the other horses that the coast is clear. The herd races off with flying hooves.Smaller than most domestic horse species, Przewalski's horses weigh about 440 to 750 pounds (200 to 340 kilograms) and stand 48 to 56 inches (122 to 142 centimeters) tall. They have stocky bodies, large heads, thick necks, upright manes, and a dark stripe down their backs. Their underbellies and muzzles have pale white markings, and their legs are short and slender.
Przewalski's horses can use their sharp hooves to get at water in the ground. Most of their day is spent grazing and foraging for food. They eat mainly grass, as well as plants and fruit, and sometimes bark, leaves, and buds. Przewalski's horses live to be about 20 years old. They live in either family or bachelor groups. Family groups are led by a dominant stallion.
Horses are an important part of Mongolian culture. However, Przewalski's horses have not been seen in the wild since 1968. They were discovered along the border between Mongolia and China in 1879. Excessive hunting by people and the loss of grazing and watering sites to domestic animals like cattle and sheep lowered the horses' numbers dramatically.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, several wild Przewalski's horses were caught and bred in captivity. Thirteen of those horses are the original ancestors of today's captive population.
Today there are about 1,200 Przewalski's horses living in zoos, private preserves, and protected areas in Mongolia.
Small groups are gradually being reintroduced into the wild to once again roam the grasslands of
Mongolia.Text by Michaela AhernFAST FACTSMongolian wild horses are threatened by human activities and predators such as wolves.The scientific name for Przewalski's horse is Equus przewalskii.The wild horse family name is Equidae.
Male horses are called stallions, females are called mares, and babies are called foals.Female horses give birth to one foal a year. Foals stay with their mothers for 8 to 13 months.Przewalski's horses stand 50 inches (127 centimeters) tall at the withers—the ridge between the shoulders.
Przewalski's horses have not been seen in the wild since 1968.Today Przewalski's horses live in private parks, zoos, and nature preserves.Stallions without family groups live alone or with other single males in bachelor groups.
Przewalski's horses defend themselves with their teeth and sharp hooves. Mongolian wild horses spend more than half their day foraging for food.Przewalski's horses symbolize Mongolia's national heritage. Przewalski's horses are considered the only true wild horses.
Przewalski's horses are named after Russian explorer and naturalist General Nikolai Michailovitch Przewalski, who first studied them.Their habitat is the grassy deserts and steppes of western Mongolia.
Now, post
1. One interesting fact you learned about the Przewalski's horses?
2. How is the Przewalski's horses different from other horses we know?
3. What book, story, or movie does this article remind you of?
4. What did you already know that helped you understand his article?
They are prey of wolves .There are composed of half stallions. They are very wild to be cached by people. They live in the grass lands . It reminds me of a movie called Spirit .All hores all have a little wild in them.
ReplyDeleteby camila
1. One interesting fact that I learned about the Przewalskis horses is that there weight is about 440 to 750 pounds ( 200 to 340 kilograms.)
ReplyDelete2. Przewalskis horses are different from other horses because they are a little bit bigger than other horses.
3. This article reminds me of one of my friends Camila because she loves horses, and a book called : All About Horses.
4. What helped me understand this article was that Camila was telling me about there life.
By: Sarah L.
1. One interesting fact you learned about the Przewalski's horses?
ReplyDelete2. How is the Przewalski's horses different from other horses we know?
3. What book, story, or movie does this article remind you of?
4. What did you already know that helped you understand this article. by Malina
1. One interesting fact you learned about the Przewalski's horses?
ReplyDelete2. How is the Przewalski’s horses different from other horses we know?
3. What book, story, or movie does this article remind you of?
4. What did you already know that helped you understand this article?
An interesting fact that I learned about Przewalski’s horses is that male horses are called stallion, females are called mares and babies are foals. This horse is different from other horses we know because these have sharp hooves. The article reminds me of the story Black Beauty and the movie Sweet Horse. I already knew a lot about horses which helped me understand this article better.
By Nergis
1. One interesting fact I learned about the Przewalski`s horses is that they wheigh a ton.
ReplyDelete2. Przewalski`s horses are different from the horses I know because they are very strong.
3. This article reminds me of my friend Camila and a book called Magic Treehouse and the wild west.
4. The thing that helped me understand this article is that I already knew what horses were.
By Ginny Lee
I think about the przewalski’s horses. That they are cool . But it has hooves to pertect its self to be soft.
ReplyDeleteThey live
One interesting fact I learned about przewalski’s horses is that they can live up to 20 years old. The thing that makes przewalski horses different from horses is that usually people take care of horses or they own them like my cousins they have horses. This article reminds me of this movie that I watched in school that my friend brought in and it was about a horse but I don’t remember what the movie was called. The thing that helped me understand this article is that I already knew about horses. Well that was my story on these incredible creatures.
ReplyDeleteBy Hunter