As of a census taken in 2005, the world population of these horses was about 1,500, all descended from 31 horses that were in captivity in 1945, mostly descended from approximately 15 captured around 1900. A cooperative venture between the Zoological Society of London and Mongolian scientists has resulted in successful reintroduction of these horses from zoos into their natural habitat in Mongolia and as of 2005 there is a free-ranging population of 248 animals in the wild.
Richard Reynolds, noted Zoo Historian mentioned the Przewalski Horse, or "P" Horse as it is often referred, in a response to a post on a Hagenbeck animal collecting trip. They are one of my favorite zoo animals and for any readers who are interested in Zoo/animal conservation success stories, the survival of the Przewalski Horse rival's that of Hornaday and the Bronx Zoo Bison Society. Google in Przewalski Horse. I am sure you will be fascinated by this animals remarkable history.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Przewalski Horse
Posted by
Wade G. Burck
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9 comments:
Wade, you probably know that a herd exists at The Wilds in Cumberland OH, and another herd is kept by the Smithsonian Institution at a facility near Front Royal, VA. The Detroit Zoo has two males.
Mary Ann
What kind of genetic diversity is present in a herd that stemmed from 15 individual animals? Granted it is wonderful that the animal was saved from extinction (though still at great risk), but at what cost? What hardships has this caused the species?
Ryan,
Are you goofy. Lose of a small amount of diversity is a better alternative then extinction. When I say small, I mean not changing the animal physically. It it meant Asian elephants with African ears, yes better they are gone. But you sacrifice a small amount of genetic diversity in any small population. What happens if there are not more blood lines for elephants? Do what you can with what you have, just don't physically change it.
Wade
Goofy, no. Daft, yes. Small amount of diversity, though? 15 individual animals, what kind of inbreeding stems from this? Yes it is wonderful the species evaded extinction, but as I have heard with white tigers, and some Portland elephant inbreeding scenarios, damaged cause to the birthed individuals. This is where my question stemmed. And Wade, don't bang the Asians with African ears, they were made popular in Tarzan. lol
Ryan,
It is dependent on how mucked up the genes are when it is down to 15 individuals or less. The species did not go through any type of "bottleneck" eon's ago, so the diversity of the gene are quite extensive.
Wade
I see. Thank you Wade. Always a pleasure.
Addendum to Ryan,
Keep in mind all blue eye people descended from a common ancestor originating in the area of Turkey/Persia, thousands and thousands of years ago.
Wade
The theory of a single common ancestor for blue eyed people was "debunked" last year in a study done by Dr. Rick Sturm in Queensland. The Institute for Molecular Bioscience has proven it takes more then one mutated gene to cause eye color. Regardless of of which is Dominant or which is Recessive.
Casey,
LOL. You must have really gotten nervous when I mentioned the study to you, 6 months ago. I don't know if it as been completely debunked. Maybe I should have said the common ancestor originate in Hugo, Oklahoma instead of Turkey.
Wade
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