Few might know the story behind this statue. This is the K\u016f\u0148 P\u0159evalsk\u00e9ho Statue. It stands as a tribute to a remarkable animal and a testament to conservation efforts.
The K\u016f\u0148 P\u0159evalsk\u00e9ho Statue is not just a work of art. It embodies the spirit of a horse that once roamed the steppes of Central Asia. The statue immortalizes Equus przewalskii. This is the only surviving wild horse species.
Let’s delve into the story of the K\u016f\u0148 P\u0159evalsk\u00e9ho. The statue was created by Vincenc Vingler in 1966. Vingler dedicated his artistic work to animals. His elegant modernist style gained recognition at EXPO 58. Today Vingler is not widely exhibited. The K\u016f\u0148 P\u0159evalsk\u00e9ho Statue in Prague Zoo remains one of his few publicly accessible works.
The K\u016f\u0148 P\u0159evalsk\u00e9ho itself is named after Nikolai Przewalski. He was a Russian naturalist who first described the horse. The Kyrgyz people called it “kertak” meaning dark horse. Mongolians revered it calling it “tach” meaning sacred.
The K\u016f\u0148 P\u0159evalsk\u00e9ho faced near extinction in the 20th century. Thanks to dedicated breeding programs the species survived. Prague Zoo became a leader in these conservation efforts.
In 1959 Prague Zoo organized a conference to save the K\u016f\u0148 P\u0159evalsk\u00e9ho. It was entrusted with managing the studbook. The zoo has been breeding these horses since 1921. The first foal was born in Prague in 1933. By 1988 150 foals had been born here.
The K\u016f\u0148 P\u0159evalsk\u00e9ho Statue originally stood at the zoo’s entrance. It symbolized the horse’s importance. It now resides near the Przewalski’s horse enclosure.
The K\u016f\u0148 P\u0159evalsk\u00e9ho is a stocky horse. It has a thickset head and a light brown coat. A dark stripe runs down its back. Its height is around 130 cm. It weighs 200 to 350 kg.
These horses live in herds of 5 to 15. They travel long distances for food. A lead mare guides the herd. A stallion protects them. Young males leave the herd at age two. They join bachelor groups.
Interestingly the K\u016f\u0148 P\u0159evalsk\u00e9ho has 66 chromosomes. Domestic horses have only 64. This difference confirms they are distinct species.
Since the 1980s reintroduction programs have released horses into Mongolia and China. Prague Zoo has been actively involved. They transport horses to Gobi B, a protected area. In 2024 they started transports to Kazakhstan.
The global population reached about 2010 in 2017. The K\u016f\u0148 P\u0159evalsk\u00e9ho is now listed as endangered by the IUCN.
Standing before the K\u016f\u0148 P\u0159evalsk\u00e9ho Statue remember its message. It is a story of survival. It is a symbol of hope. It is a reminder of the importance of conservation.