THE Przewalski’s horse, a globally endangered species under China’s highest level of national protection, was once extinct in the wild in the country.

In 1985, China began a reintroduction program, bringing horses back from abroad for breeding. After more than 40 years of scientific protection and captive breeding, the country’s Przewalski’s horse population has surpassed 900, accounting for roughly one-third of the global total.

At the Karamaile Mountain Nature Reserve, conservation workers serve as year-round guardians of the horses. With the Spring Festival approaching, they continue regular monitoring, identify potential risks in the wild, and take measures to ensure the horses safely survive the winter. (Xinhua)