FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 9000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Home / Equine Research Bank / Appl Anim Behav Sci / Time budget-, behavioral synchrony- and body score developme...
Applied animal behaviour science2007; 107(3-4); 307-321; doi: 10.1016/j.applanim.2006.09.023

Time budget-, behavioral synchrony- and body score development of a newly released Przewalski’s horse group Equus ferus przewalskii, in the Great Gobi B Strictly Protected Area in SW Mongolia.

Abstract: The Przewalski's horse (Equus ferus przewalskii) became extinct in the wild in the 1960s, but survived as a species due to captive breeding. There have been several initiatives to re-introduce the species in central Asia, but until now only two projects in Mongolia establish free-ranging populations. Data on basic ecology and behavior of the species prior to extinction is largely lacking and a good documentation of the re-introduction process is essential. Between 13 May and 2 September 2003 we documented the time budget-, group synchrony and body score development of a newly released Przewalski's horse group in the Gobi area of SW Mongolia.Contrary to our expectations, the newly released Przewalski's horses did not show the expected succession of an exploration-, acclimatization-, and established phase. Grazing activity was very high after the release, decreased to a minimum in July and increased again towards the end of the study in September. Resting activity followed the opposite trend, whereas moving activity was more or less constant over the entire observation period. Behavioral synchronization of the group was high throughout the study period and immigration or emigration of members did not result in a de-synchronization of the group. The body score index never dropped, but rather increased for all group members.Our data suggests that captive bred Przewalski's horses experience little behavioral and nutritional stress when being released into the desert steppe of the Gobi regions after one year in an adaptation enclosure.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2007-11-01 PubMed ID: 22064904PubMed Central: PMC3207227DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2006.09.023Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
LinkedInCopy
  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This study tracks the behavior and health of a group of captive-bred Przewalski’s horses after they were released into the wild in the Gobi desert of Mongolia. It revealed that the horses adapted well to the new environment, with high levels of group synchrony and maintenance of body condition.

Introduction

  • The research took place in SW Mongolia’s Gobi Desert, where a group of Przewalski’s horses, a species that was previously extinct in the wild, was released after captive breeding.
  • The main focus of the study was monitoring the time budget (grazing, resting, moving activities), group synchrony (how well the group’s behavior matched up), and body score (physical condition) of these horses as they adjusted to their new environment.

Expectations vs. Results

  • The researchers expected to observe three phases: exploration, acclimatization, and establishment, but these were not evident in the released horses’ behavior.
  • Instead, there were fluctuations in grazing activity (it was high right after release, dipped to a minimum in July, and then increased again by September) and resting activity increased over time.

Behavioral Synchronization and Body Score Index

  • The synchronization of behavior within the group remained high throughout the study period.
  • Remarkably, changes in the group, like immigration or emigration, did not disrupt this behavioral synchrony.
  • In terms of their physical condition, no reduction was observed in the body score index of any horse in the group.
  • Instead, all horses presented an increase in their body score index, suggesting good health status.

Summary of Findings

  • The data collected showed that captive-bred Przewalski’s horses are able to adapt well to the desert steppe environment in the Gobi region.
  • These findings are particularly important because they suggest that these horses, previously extinct in the wild, can be successfully reintroduced into their natural habitats with little behavioral or nutritional stress.

Cite This Article

APA
Souris AC, Kaczensky P, Julliard R, Walzer C. (2007). Time budget-, behavioral synchrony- and body score development of a newly released Przewalski’s horse group Equus ferus przewalskii, in the Great Gobi B Strictly Protected Area in SW Mongolia. Appl Anim Behav Sci, 107(3-4), 307-321. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2006.09.023

Publication

Applied animal behaviour science
ISSN: 0168-1591
NlmUniqueID: 8504276
Country: Netherlands
Language: English
Volume: 107
Issue: 3-4
Pages: 307-321

Researcher Affiliations

Souris, Anne-Camille
  • International Takhi Group, Paris, France.
Kaczensky, Petra
    Julliard, Romain
      Walzer, Christian

        Grant Funding

        • P 18624 / Austrian Science Fund FWF

        References

        This article includes 42 references
        1. Altmann J. Observational study of behavior: sampling methods.. Behaviour 1974;49(3):227-67.
          pubmed: 4597405doi: 10.1163/156853974x00534google scholar: lookup
        2. Arnold W, Ruf T, Reimoser S, Tataruch F, Onderscheka K, Schober F. Nocturnal hypometabolism as an overwintering strategy of red deer (Cervus elaphus).. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 2004 Jan;286(1):R174-81.
          pubmed: 12969877doi: 10.1152/ajpregu.00593.2002google scholar: lookup
        3. Berger A, Scheibe K-M, Eichhorn K, Scheibe A, Streich J. Diurnal and ultradian rhythms of behaviour in a mare group of Przewalski horse (Equus ferus przewalskii), measured through one year under semi-reserve conditions.. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 1999;64:1–17.
        4. Bertram BCR. Living in groups: Predators and prey.. In: Krebs JR, Davies NB, editors. Behavioural Ecology: An Evolutionary Approach. Blackwell Scientific Publications; Oxford: 1978. pp. 64–96.
        5. Bouman I, Bouman J. The history of the Przewalski’s horse.. In: Boyd L, Houpt KA, editors. Przewalski’s horse: The history and Biology of an Endangered Species. State university of New York Press; Albany: 1994.
        6. Boyd L. The 24-h time budget of a takh harem stallion (Equus ferus przewalskii) pre- and post-reintroduction.. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 1998;60(4):291–299.
        7. Boyd L. The behaviour of Przewalski’s horses and its importance to their management.. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 1991;29:301–318.
        8. Boyd L, Bandi N. Reintroduction of takhi, Equus ferus przewalskii, to Hustai National Park, Mongolia: time budget and synchrony of activity pre- and post- release.. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 2002;70:87–102.
        9. Boyd L, Houpt KA. Przewalski’s horse: The History and Biology of an Endangered Species.. State university of New York Press; Albany: 1994.
        10. Boyd LE. Time budgets of adult Przewalski horses effects of sex, reproductive status and enclosure.. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 1988;21:19–39.
        11. Boyd LE, Carbonaro DA, Houpt KA. The 24 hour time budget of Przewalski Horses.. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 1988;21:5–7.
        12. Duncan P. Horses and grasses: The nutritional ecology of equids and their impact in the camargue.. Springer; Berlin: 1992. (Ecological Studies 87).
        13. Feist JD, McCullough DR. Behavior patterns and communication in feral horses.. Z Tierpsychol 1976 Aug;41(4):337-71.
          pubmed: 983427doi: 10.1111/j.1439-0310.1976.tb00947.xgoogle scholar: lookup
        14. Ganbaatar O. Takhi’s (Equus przewalskii Polj., 1883) home range and water point use.. National University of Mongolia. Faculty of Biology, Department of Zoology; Ulanbaatar: 2003. Master thesis. [In Mongolian with English abstract].
        15. Hilbig W. Die Pflanzengesellschaften der Mongolei.. In: Stubbe M, et al., editors. Biologische Ressourcen der Mongolischen Volksrepublik. Martin-Luther Universität; Halle-Wittenberg, Halle: 1990. [In German].
        16. Jarman PJ. The social organisation of antelope in relation to their ecology.. Behaviour 1974;48:215–267.
        17. Kaczensky P. First assessment of Nomrog and Dornod Mongol Strictly Protected Areas in the Eastern Steppe of Mongolia for the re-introduction of Przewalski’s horses.. World Conservation Society (WCS) report. 2006.
        18. Kaczensky P, Huber D, Knauer F, Roth H, Wagner A, Kusak J. Activity patterns of brown bears in Slovenia and Croatia.. Journal of Zoology, London. 2006;269:474–485.
        19. Kaczensky P, Enkhsaihan N, Ganbaatar O, Walzer C. Identification of herder-wild equid conflicts in the Great Gobi B Strictly Protected Area in SW Mongolia.. Exploration into the Biological Resources of Mongolia (Halle/Saale, Germany) 2006;10 in press. 00-00.
        20. King SRB. Home range and habitat use of free-ranging Przewalski horses at Hustai National Park, Mongolia.. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 2002;78(2):103–113.
        21. Klimov VV. Spatial-ethological organization of the herd of Przewalski horses (Equus przewalskii) in Askania-Nova.. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 1988;21:99–115.
        22. Kuntz R. Ausmaß und Ursachen des saisonalen Energiehaushaltes bei Przewalskipferden (Equus ferus przewalskii). Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine; Vienna, Austria: 2005. Dissertation thesis. [In German].
        23. Mongolian Takhi Strategy and Plan Work Group. Recommendations for Mongolia’s takhi strategy and plan.. Mongolian Government, Ministry of Nature and Environment; Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia: 1993.
        24. Mohr E, Volf J. Das Urwildpferd.. Die Neue Brehm-Bücherei A. Ziemsen Verlag; Wittenberg Lutherstadt, Germany: 1984. p. 128. [In German] 23.
        25. Pereladova OB, Sempéré AJ, Soldatova NV, Dutov VU, Fisenko G, Flint VE. Przewalski’s horse-adaptation to semi-wild life in desert conditions.. Oryx 1999;33(1):47–58.
        26. Robert N, Walzer C, Rüegg SR, Kaczensky P, Ganbaatar O, Stauffer C. Pathologic findings in reintroduced Przewalski's horses (Equus caballus przewalskii) in southwestern Mongolia.. J Zoo Wildl Med 2005 Jun;36(2):273-85.
          pubmed: 17323569doi: 10.1638/03-035.1google scholar: lookup
        27. Rudman R, Keiper RR. The body condition of feral ponies on Assateague Island.. Equine Vet J 1991 Nov;23(6):453-6.
          pubmed: 1778164doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1991.tb03760.xgoogle scholar: lookup
        28. Sarrazin F, Barbault R. Reintroduction: challenges and lessons for basic ecology.. Trends Ecol Evol 1996 Nov;11(11):474-8.
          pubmed: 21237930doi: 10.1016/0169-5347(96)20092-8google scholar: lookup
        29. Scheibe KM, Streich WJ. Annual rhythm of body weight in Przewalski’s horses (Equus ferus przewalskii). Biol. Rhythm Res. 2003;34(4):383–395.
        30. Scheibe KM, Berger A, Langbein J, Streich WJ, Eichhorn K. Comparative analysis of ultradian and circadian behavioural rhythms for diagnosis of biorhythmic state of animals.. Biol. Rhythm Res. 1999;30(2):216–233.
        31. Scheibe KM, Eichhorn K, Kalz B, Streich WJ, Scheibe A. Water consumption and watering behavior of Przewalski’s horses (Equus ferus przewalskii) in a semireserve.. Zoo Biol. 1998;17:181–192.
        32. Schöenpflug M. Releasing Takhi into wild. An accompanying behavioural study on bachelor stallions of Equus ferus przewalskii, in the Dzungarian Gobi, in western Mongolia.. Paris Lodron University; Salzburg, Austria: 2004. Master thesis.
        33. Sinnmayer S. Monitoring of re-introduced Przewalskii horse group (Equus przewalskii) in the Dzungarian Gobi, western Mongolia.. Paris Lodron University; Salzburg, Austria: 2003. Master thesis.
        34. Slotta-Bachmayr L, Boegel R, Kaczensky P, Stauffer C, Walzer C. Use of population viability analysis to identify management priorities and success in reintroducing Przewalski’s horse to southwestern Mongolia.. J. Wildl. Manage. 2004;68(4):790–798.
        35. Sokolov VE, Orlov VN. The Przewalski Horse and Restoration to its Natural Habitat in Mongolia.. The Przewalski Horse and Restoration to its Natural Habitat in Mongolia. Vol. 181. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations; Rome: 1986. Introduction of Przewalski horses into the wild; pp. 77–88. (FAO Animal Production and Health Paper 61). Pages 77-88.
        36. Stanley Price MR. Animal Re-introductions: The Arabian Oryx in Oman.. Cambridge University Press; Cambridge: 1989.
        37. Stanley Price MR. A review of mammal re-introductions, and the role of the Re-introduction Specialist Group of the IUCN/SSC.. In: Gipps JHW, editor. Beyond Captive Breeding: Re-introducing Endangered Mammals to the Wild. Clarendon Press; Oxford: 1991. pp. 9–25.
        38. Van Dierendonck MC, Wallies de Vries MF. Ungulate Reintroductions: Experiences with the Takhi or Przewalski Horse (Equus ferus przewalskii) in Mongolia.. Conserv. Biol. 1996;10:728–740.
        39. Van Dierendonck MC, Bandi N, Batdorj D, Dügerlham S, Munkhtsog B. Behavioural observations of reintroduced Takhi or Przewalski horses (Equus ferus przewalskii) in Mongolia.. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 1996;50(2):95–114.
        40. Volf J. Das Urwildpferd.. Die Neue Brehm-Bücherei Volume 249. Westarp Wissenschaften; Magdeburg, Germany: 1996. p. 147. [In German].
        41. Wakefield S, Knowles J, Zimmermann W, van Dierendonck M. Chapter 7: Status and Action Plan for the Przewalski’s Horse (Equus ferus przewalskii). In: Moehlman PD, editor. Equids: Zebras, Asses, and Horses: Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan. IUCN/SCC Equid Specialist Group, IUCN (The World Conservation Union); Gland Switzerland and Cambridge: 2002. 2002.
        42. Zimmermann W. Przewalskipferde auf dem Weg zur Wiedereinbürgerung - Verschiedene Projekte im Vergleich.. Zeitschrift des Kölner Zoo 2005;4:183–209. [Special issue, in German].

        Citations

        This article has been cited 21 times.
        1. Bernátková A, Oyunsaikhan G, Šimek J, Komárková M, Bobek M, Ceacero F. Influence of weather on the behaviour of reintroduced Przewalski's horses in the Great Gobi B Strictly Protected Area (Mongolia): implications for conservation. BMC Zool 2022 Jun 9;7(1):32.
          doi: 10.1186/s40850-022-00130-zpubmed: 37170378google scholar: lookup
        2. Harvey AM, Ramp D, Mellor DJ. Review of the Foundational Knowledge Required for Assessing Horse Welfare. Animals (Basel) 2022 Dec 1;12(23).
          doi: 10.3390/ani12233385pubmed: 36496906google scholar: lookup
        3. Turghan MA, Jiang Z, Niu Z. An Update on Status and Conservation of the Przewalski's Horse (Equus ferus przewalskii): Captive Breeding and Reintroduction Projects. Animals (Basel) 2022 Nov 15;12(22).
          doi: 10.3390/ani12223158pubmed: 36428386google scholar: lookup
        4. Gliga DS, Petrova N, Linnell JDC, Salemgareyev AR, Zuther S, Walzer C, Kaczensky P. Dynamics of Gastro-Intestinal Strongyle Parasites in a Group of Translocated, Wild-Captured Asiatic Wild Asses in Kazakhstan. Front Vet Sci 2020;7:598371.
          doi: 10.3389/fvets.2020.598371pubmed: 33363236google scholar: lookup
        5. Baumgartner M, Boisson T, Erhard MH, Zeitler-Feicht MH. Common Feeding Practices Pose A Risk to the Welfare of Horses When Kept on Non-Edible Bedding. Animals (Basel) 2020 Mar 2;10(3).
          doi: 10.3390/ani10030411pubmed: 32131415google scholar: lookup
        6. Stabach JA, Cunningham SA, Connette G, Mota JL, Reed D, Byron M, Songer M, Wacher T, Mertes K, Brown JL, Comizzoli P, Newby J, Monfort S, Leimgruber P. Short-term effects of GPS collars on the activity, behavior, and adrenal response of scimitar-horned oryx (Oryx dammah). PLoS One 2020;15(2):e0221843.
          doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0221843pubmed: 32045413google scholar: lookup
        7. Pohlin F, Brabender K, Fluch G, Stalder G, Petit T, Walzer C. Seasonal Variations in Heart Rate Variability as an Indicator of Stress in Free-Ranging Pregnant Przewalski's Horses (E. ferus przewalskii) within the Hortobágy National Park in Hungary. Front Physiol 2017;8:664.
          doi: 10.3389/fphys.2017.00664pubmed: 28936179google scholar: lookup
        8. Burnik Šturm M, Ganbaatar O, Voigt CC, Kaczensky P. Sequential stable isotope analysis reveals differences in multi-year dietary history of three sympatric equid species in SW Mongolia. J Appl Ecol 2017 Aug;54(4):1110-1119.
          doi: 10.1111/1365-2664.12825pubmed: 28717255google scholar: lookup
        9. Zakari FO, Ayo JO, Rekwot PI, Kawu MU. Influence of season on daytime behavioral activities of donkeys in the Northern Guinea Savanna zone of Nigeria. J Equine Sci 2015;26(4):105-11.
          doi: 10.1294/jes.26.105pubmed: 26858575google scholar: lookup
        10. Giotto N, Gerard JF, Ziv A, Bouskila A, Bar-David S. Space-Use Patterns of the Asiatic Wild Ass (Equus hemionus): Complementary Insights from Displacement, Recursion Movement and Habitat Selection Analyses. PLoS One 2015;10(12):e0143279.
          doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0143279pubmed: 26630393google scholar: lookup
        11. Bourjade M, Thierry B, Hausberger M, Petit O. Is leadership a reliable concept in animals? An empirical study in the horse. PLoS One 2015;10(5):e0126344.
          doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0126344pubmed: 26010442google scholar: lookup
        12. Kaczensky P, Ganbaatar O, von Wehrden H, Enksaikhan N, Lkhagvasuren D, Walzer C. Przewalski's Horse (Equus ferus przewalskii) Re-introduction in the Great Gobi B Strictly Protected Area: from Species to Ecosystem Conservation. Mong J Biol Sci 2007 Dec;5(1-2):13-18.
          doi: 10.22353/mjbs.2007.05.03pubmed: 22064815google scholar: lookup
        13. Bachmann M, Bochnia M, Wensch-Dorendorf M, Glatter M, Schäfer S, Simroth K, Greef JM, Zeyner A. Feed intake, digestibility and passage kinetics in grazing horses. Sci Rep 2026 Jan 22;16(1):3052.
          doi: 10.1038/s41598-026-35647-7pubmed: 41571885google scholar: lookup
        14. Taylor DEF, Lancaster BE, Ellis AD. Time Budgets in Domesticated Male Icelandic Horses on Pasture Turnout in Winter and Spring. Animals (Basel) 2025 Nov 4;15(21).
          doi: 10.3390/ani15213206pubmed: 41227536google scholar: lookup
        15. Taylor DEF, Lancaster BE, Ellis AD. The Use of Sound Recorders to Remotely Measure Grass Intake Behaviour in Horses. Animals (Basel) 2025 Aug 4;15(15).
          doi: 10.3390/ani15152273pubmed: 40805063google scholar: lookup
        16. Roig-Pons M, Bachmann I, Freymond SB. Impact of feeding strategies on the welfare and behaviour of horses in groups: An experimental study. PLoS One 2025;20(6):e0325928.
          doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0325928pubmed: 40560838google scholar: lookup
        17. Galotti A, Romano M, Baragli P, Palagi E. Yawning in sync: implications for social cohesion in horses. Curr Zool 2025 Apr;71(2):137-151.
          doi: 10.1093/cz/zoae052pubmed: 40264711google scholar: lookup
        18. Bhave A, Kieson E, Hafner A, Gloor PA. Identifying Novel Emotions and Wellbeing of Horses from Videos Through Unsupervised Learning. Sensors (Basel) 2025 Jan 31;25(3).
          doi: 10.3390/s25030859pubmed: 39943498google scholar: lookup
        19. Nykonenko A, Moturnak Y, McLoughlin PD. Social Relationships of Captive Bachelor Przewalski's Horses and Their Effect on Daily Activity and Space Use. Animals (Basel) 2024 Dec 28;15(1).
          doi: 10.3390/ani15010053pubmed: 39794996google scholar: lookup
        20. McDonald S, Harley JJ, Hockenhull J. A comparison of the welfare of free-ranging native pony herds on common land with those used for conservation grazing in the UK. Anim Welf 2024;33:e30.
          doi: 10.1017/awf.2024.35pubmed: 39315352google scholar: lookup
        21. Dai F, Dalla Costa E, Minero M, Briant C. Does housing system affect horse welfare? The AWIN welfare assessment protocol applied to horses kept in an outdoor group-housing system: The 'parcours'. Anim Welf 2023;32:e22.
          doi: 10.1017/awf.2023.9pubmed: 38487418google scholar: lookup
        Subscribe to our newsletter
        Join 99,359 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.