Botai and Tumar: what Przewalski's horse foals look like in Kazakhstan

Tengrinews.kz — The Kazakh steppe has welcomed a long-awaited addition with the birth of two Przewalski's horse foals. Named Botai and Tumar, the new arrivals represent a milestone for the region.
Who are Botai and Tumar?
Botai was born to a mare named Tessa, while Tumar's mother is Umbra. Both mares were transported to Kazakhstan from Berlin's Tierpark in 2024.
Foal Tumar / Photo: Forestry and Wildlife Committee of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources
According to the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, Botai was the first to arrive, born on August 22, 2026, at the Alibi Reintroduction Center within the Altyn Dala State Nature Reserve. He was soon joined by the second foal, Tumar.
The foals' names carry deep cultural significance. Botai is named after the archaeological culture that played a pivotal role in the history of horse domestication. Tumar refers to a traditional Kazakh amulet symbolizing protection.
Foal Botai / Photo: Forestry and Wildlife Committee of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources
Current Health and Status
Now over a month old, the foals remain close to their mothers while specialists maintain regular health monitoring.
Botai and Tumar are actively exploring their surroundings. They already exhibit the physical traits of adult Przewalski’s horses: a stocky build, short erect manes, and sandy-brown coats. Their legs are darker, and a characteristic dark stripe runs along their backs.

Why these births matter
The birth of offspring is a critical milestone for any reintroduction program.
Botai and Tumar were born in Kazakhstan to horses previously brought from European zoos. Their arrival serves as evidence that the animals are successfully adapting to local conditions and breeding in their new environment.
In the future, these foals will contribute to the formation of a self-sustaining Przewalski’s horse population in the Kazakh steppe.
Bringing the Przewalski’s horse back to Kazakhstan
The birth of Botai and Tumar marks a new phase in the "Return of Wild Horses" project. The program aims to re-establish the species within its historical range and create a sustainable population capable of living and breeding independently in the wild.
The first seven horses arrived in Kazakhstan from European zoos in 2024 and were settled at the Alibi Reintroduction Center in the Altyn Dala Reserve. Seven more animals followed in 2025, with another eight arriving in 2026.
Kazakhstan plans to receive approximately 40 Przewalski’s horses by 2029.
The animals are currently undergoing a vital adaptation phase. Experts are monitoring them closely and preparing them for life in conditions that closely mimic the natural wild environment.
Eurasia’s last wild horses
The Przewalski's horse is considered the last remaining species of wild horse in Eurasia. While they once roamed Central Asia, the species eventually disappeared from the wild in Kazakhstan.
Note: Przewalski's horse is a wild equine species. According to the Association for the Conservation of Biodiversity of Kazakhstan, the species was discovered by Russian geographer and explorer Nikolay Przewalski in 1878 (other sources cite 1879) near Lake Lop Nur. In 1881, Professor Ivan Polyakov published the first scientific description of the species. In the wild, Przewalski’s horses live in small bands, typically numbering 10 to 15 animals, led by an alpha stallion. They are well-adapted to the cold and can forage in winter by digging through the snow.
Efforts are now underway to return Przewalski’s horses to their historical habitat. The two foals born in Kazakhstan represent the next generation of animals being prepared for a full return to the wild.
Botai and Tumar are not the only recent additions to the species in Kazakhstan. Recently, a mare named Kurbankul gave birth to a foal at the Almaty Zoo—the newcomer was named Zhelmaya. Born on June 14, 2026, Zhelmaya is the mare's second foal.