'Extinct' Wild Horse Roams Again

The Telegraph (UK) ^ | 12-19-2005 | Charles Clover

[blam]

'Extinct' wild horse roams again

By Charles Clover
(Filed: 19/12/2005)

The wild horse has been saved from extinction after a successful programme to reintroduce captive-bred horses to their natural habitat in Mongolia.

A working group of scientists at London Zoo has now recommended that Przewalski's horse, previously characterised as "extinct" in the wild, should now be listed as "endangered".

It is a rare case of a species climbing away from extinction. If the new status is accepted by IUCN, the World Conservation Union, scientists say it will be a milestone for large mammal conservation.

In 1945, there were only 31 of Przewalski's horses in captivity, but by the early 1990s there were more than 1,500, and reintroductions began in their harsh native environment in Mongolia.

Nick Lindsay, of the Zoological Society of London, said: "There were concerns that, having bred for 13 generations in captivity, the animals would not be able to survive in the wild.

"However, there are now 248 free-ranging Przewalski's horses in the wild, a factor which has resulted in their remarkable status reclassification."

Przewalski's is the only true wild horse and is genetically dissimilar to the domestic horse, having a different number of chromosomes. It was discovered by a Russian, Col Nikolai Przewalski, in 1879.

It was hunted heavily by local people from the 17th century and its extinction in the wild came through further hunting at the end of the Second World War. The decline was exacerbated through agriculture in its natural habitat.

[Past Your Eyes]

Is it living in Jurassic Park?

[blam]

[blam]

[squarebarb]

What? We don't have the same chromosomes? But darling, surely we can work something out...

[squarebarb]

That's what horsemen in the west call a skillet jaw. Fer sure.

[coconutt2000]

Progress is being made in breeding Cro-Magnon man. Scientists have confirmed that definitive primitive behaviors are emerging, along with natural herd instincts. With any luck the first physically similar specimens will begin to appear after a couple generations of voting for Democrats.

Project managers are conservatively optimistic.

[editor-surveyor]

That critter looks more like a large donkey to me, based on the shape of it's head. Could it be genetically more similar to the donkey?

[Past Your Eyes]

ROFLMAO! That would do it all right.

[editor-surveyor]

"Progress is being made in breeding Cro-Magnon man..."

Progress??? We've even had one elected President back in the 90's

[Salamander]

Modern horse heads resulted from selective breeding for "beauty".

These guys are ur-horses....:)

[ecurbh]

Ping

[HairOfTheDog]

[Rebelbase]

"It was discovered by a Russian, Col Nikolai Przewalski, in 1879."

I'm sure people had seen it before then.

[the_daug]

Some authorities believe the Przewalski is a direct ancestor of the modern day domesticated horse. Others contend this is not possible as the Przewalski is a different species having sixty-six chromosomes while the domestic horse carries sixty-four. It is possible to cross the Przewalski with the domestic horse, and the resulting hybrid is fertile; however this offspring has sixty-five chromosomes. When crossed again to the domestic horse, the new generation returns to sixty-four chromosomes and little influence of the Przewalski horse is evident.

ref;http://www.imh.org/imh/bw/prz.html

[359Henrie]

Its an ASS, with black dress socks.

[blam]

Heavenly Horses

[tuffydoodle]

Chromosomes? Eh, we don't need no steekin' chromosomes.

[conservativewasp]

I've always heard that horse was pretty good eating, have any of you all tried it?

[Atchafalaya]

Want hay????

[CindyDawg]

Not yet but if mine ever bites me I'm biting back:')

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

I was hoping for a five toed Eohippus!

[cowboyway]

Progress is being made in breeding Cro-Magnon man.

Ha! Us Neanderthals have been breeding successfully for years.

[GreenFreeper]

ECO-PING

FReepmail me to be added or removed to the ECO-PING list!

Sounds more like a distinct population segment!

[Carry_Okie]

Sounds more like a distinct population segment!

Actually, in this case (for once), I might call it a separate species on the strength of having a different number of chromosomes than the horse. Some experiments to determine if the two could produce viable progeny are possibly in order.

[GreenFreeper]

Actually, in this case (for once), I might call it a separate species on the strength of having a different number of chromosomes

Perhaps, but many salamanders (I believe plants as well)have different numbers of chromosome yet fall under the DPS. I still don't think we have a firm grasp on what a species really is.

[Carry_Okie]

I still don't think we have a firm grasp on what a species really is.

A distinction of interest only to the legally debauched.

I concur wholeheartedly, especially in the plant kingdom. I've got vicia on my property that is a hybrid of European and domestic varieties. I've got dandelions that are viable hybrids of annual and perennial "species" (annual/perennial itself being somewhat arguable as some can behave either way depending upon climate).

[Marine_Uncle]

"I still don't think we have a firm grasp on what a species really is."
Interesting thought. Let the cards fall where they may as science un-ravels the many mysteries. So much to learn, un-learn, and revise.

[Carry_Okie]

Let the cards fall where they may as science un-ravels the many mysteries. So much to learn, un-learn, and revise.

Bingo. Dumping this stupid model would be the greatest boon to botany since Mendel. People might actually start studying specimens in situ for what they are and how they behave, instead of what they resemble, whether you can name it after yourself, and if you can get a grant to "protect" it.

[Marine_Uncle]

"People might actually start studying specimens in situ for what they are and how they behave, instead of what they resemble, whether you can name it after yourself, and if you can get a grant to "protect" it."
Well put and appreciated. Human pride and selfserving personal goals often override what many are lead to believe is the primary goal of scientific research, e.g. establishing a true state of things.

[najida]

Cool!

It's Eeyore!

[elbucko]

I've always heard that horse was pretty good eating, have any of you all tried it?

No, but smart-ass "long pig" is digestible if it's prepared correctly.