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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.
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Publication Date: 2007-11-01 PubMed ID: 22064904PubMed Central: PMC3207227DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2006.09.023Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • 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

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