More than 900 wild horses have now been reintroduced to the Chinese steppes through conservation programmes. The milestone coincides with the 2026 Year of the Horse, drawing renewed attention to wildlife conservation and biodiversity protection efforts across Asia.

Credits: Unsplash; Author: Annika Treial;

The conservation programmes are aimed at restoring the species after it disappeared from the wild in China during the 20th century. Przewalski’s horses, considered the world’s last truly wild horse species, once faced extinction due to hunting and habitat loss. Conservation programmes involving captive breeding, habitat restoration and rewilding have helped rebuild populations in parts of China and Mongolia.