(260206) -- DUNHUANG, Feb. 6, 2026 (Xinhua) -- This photo taken on Feb. 5, 2026 shows Przewalski's horses foraging for food at the Dunhuang West Lake National Nature Reserve in Dunhuang, northwest China's Gansu Province.
The Przewalski's horse, a globally endangered species under first-class national protection in China, was once extinct in the wild within the country. In 1985, China launched a reintroduction program, bringing the horses back from abroad for breeding. Within the 660,000-hectare Dunhuang West Lake National Nature Reserve, a conservation team works year-round as guardians of the Przewalski's horses.
Staff members conduct regular monitoring of the horses. They document foraging, drinking and population structure, while also patrolling the area and checking surrounding water resources. Additionally, they examine feces to assess the condition of the horses. After 40 years of reintroduction and conservation, the Przewalski's horse population in this reserve has grown to approximately 200, successfully transitioning from captive to natural breeding.
"Watching the horses running over the desert and grasslands makes our efforts worthwhile," said Wu Xingdong, head of the Yumenguan Conservation Station at the West Lake Reserve. (Xinhua/Chen Bin)
