Wild horses, vast desert: Mongolia's cultural and natural history both unique on Earth

Abstract

Rolston travels to Mongolia to see Przewalski's horses, or takhi, the only truly wild horse, never domesticated, once extinct in the wild, and now restored to the Mongolian landscape from horses that were captive in European zoos. This distinct species has two more chromosomes than domestic horses. It became extinct in Mongolia in the 1960's and was restored by Dutch veterinarians in the 1990's, after Mongolia became independent, overthrowing the Communists. Rolston finds two groups, stallions with mares, one foal, a dozen takhi. Also, argali, the largest most robust bighorn sheep. Visit to Gobi desert.