Endangered horses with a very important job

October 22, 2024

Three Endangered Przewalski's horses walking toward the camera at Eelmoor Marsh

Endangered Przewalski’s horses from Marwell Zoo have galloped into Eelmoor Marsh Site of Special Scientific Interest to help maintain the open heathland.

Marwell Wildlife manages Eelmoor Marsh as a rewilding site and the arrival of the new stallions marks another step forward in the charity’s conservation success story.

The new arrivals, Takhi and Basil, joined Dorov and Elmo who were already living on site, alongside our herd of ten highland cattle.

Previously listed Extinct in the Wild on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, the horses have made a remarkable comeback thanks to dedicated breeding and reintroduction programmes.

Marwell has played a large role in this work, and their re-classification to ‘Endangered’ in 2011 marked a milestone achievement for the conservation of this species.

At 195-acres, Eelmoor Marsh offers a large, semi-wild habitat for the Przewalski’s horses to explore.  

Przewalski's horse galloping
Photo: Paul Drane

For the last three decades, these horses have played a crucial part in maintaining Eelmoor as a wildlife haven – their primary purpose on site being for conservation grazing.

By restoring the natural processes that have been lost due to the absence of large herbivores, the horses help to shape the landscape, without too much human intervention.

Restoring this ecosystem function allows us to maintain an open heathland, prevent the encroachment of scrub and invasive plants, and encourage the growth of diverse vegetation to create a rich mosaic of habitat types.

This is essential for the survival of various plant and animal species at Eelmoor, now harbouring over 400 species of conservation concern.

Among these are rare birds such as the Dartford warbler and nightjar, reptiles such as the sand lizard, and specialist invertebrates including the silver-studded blue butterfly.

Not only does the arrival of these horses ensure that Eelmoor will remain a thriving ecosystem for years to come, it also acts as a flagship for the future – paving the way for pioneering rewilding projects across the world.