Przewalski's Horses Steadfastly Endure Frosts and Blizzards in Orenburg Region
There are currently 125 Przewalski«s horses in Orenburg Oblast
Despite the severe frosts, Przewalski«s horses in the »Pre-Ural Steppe« are demonstrating endurance. Sergei Guryanov, a part-time employee of the Przewalski»s Horse Reintroduction Center and a junior research fellow at the Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IPEE RAS), told about how winter is going for them in the steppe.
Only in bad weather do the horses gather into a dense herd
Winter in the «Pre-Ural Steppe» has been varied: sometimes a fierce blizzard sweeps in, filling ravines with snow, then a cold snap sets in, covering everything with ice. After that comes morning fog, followed by the long-awaited sun, and the steppe begins to look like a real winter fairy tale.
The beauty of the snow-covered Pre-Ural Steppe
— Przewalski«s horses, in turn, are once again demonstrating resilience. Only in the worst weather do they hide among the ravines or gather into a tight group, preparing to face any snowstorm. The rest of the time, they feel quite well, even managing to have disputes and subsequent social reorganizations. Therefore, the work of the Reintroduction Center and researchers, striving to capture all winter moments of these wonderful animals» lives, does not cease,« commented Sergei Guryanov.
When the storm subsides, the ungulates feel quite well and even have time for disputes
Recall that in November 2025, at the Przewalski«s Horse Reintroduction Center in Orenburg region, the latest foal was born. The foal was given life by the horse Salomeya. Before that, the latest was Yoda, born on November 10, but he was flown to Khakassia.
The density of the Przewalski«s horse»s mane depends on weather conditions. For example, in winter it is more luxuriant
And at the end of October of the same year, part of the Przewalski«s horses were delivered from Orenburg Oblast to the Republic of Khakassia. This is a significant event and part of a large-scale program to restore the population of these rare animals. The second home in Russia for the ungulates became the site »Kamyzyakskaya Steppe with Lake Ulukh-Kol« in the Khakassky Nature Reserve.
