Wild Horses Return to China 2010
Distributed by The Video Project, PO Box 411376, San Francisco, CA 94141-1376; 800-475-2638
Produced by Natural History New Zealand
Director n/a
DVD, color, 50 min.
Sr. High - Adult
Wildlife Conservation, Biology, Science
Date Entered: 04/22/2011
Reviewed by Geetha Yapa, Science Library, University of California, RiversideWild horses that roamed the grassy plains of west China for thousands of years disappeared during the early 20th century as a result of relentless poaching and other factors. Wild horses shipped by Russian explorer Nikolai Przhevalsky survived in zoos and private hands around the world. Scientists in China have recently been successful in breeding the horses with the hopes of returning them to the wild. Wild Horses Return to China is the heartbreaking story of life, death and struggles of the first group of horses released back into the wild.
After more than a century of life in captivity, these horses struggle to survive the extreme conditions of the beautiful land once home to their ancestors. This video provides a rare glimpse into the lives of these horses, their biology and social behavior. It highlights the social hierarchy within the herd and the role of the dominant stallion and lead mare. The film captures the dedication of Chinese scientists and their efforts to re-introduce a once wild species back into the wild, and the hardships faced by the horses as they follow their instincts on their journey towards freedom.
Recommended for collections on wildlife conservation and biology.
This video is one of the four part series, On The Brink: Preserving Endangered Species.