Khustai Nuruu National Park

The Khustai Nuruu National Park is located 60 miles to the west of Ulaan Baatar and is an area of green pastures, undulating hills and streams. The park is run by a Mongolian conservation association with co-operation from a Dutch foundation, who in 1993 successfully re-introduced the Mongolian Wild Horse to its native habitat at Khustai Nuruu. The takhi, or Przewalski horse, is a short stocky species believed by some scientists to be the wild progenitor of the domestic horse, and was declared extinct in the wild in the late 1960s following hunting and encroachment of their habitat by herdsmen. Several takhi horses survived in zoos and private collections, and after the Cold War steps were taken by the WWF to breed the group that would be re-introduced. Since the programme began 39 foals have been born in the wild, and there is a population of around 250 in the National Park. At the park there is a Takhi Information Centre telling of the wild horses return to Mongolia, and walking trails to see the horses in their enclosures.