Source: CCTV News Client
This morning, the West Lake Nature Reserve in Dunhuang City, Gansu Province, plans to release 40 wild horses of 10 herds from the Mahuan Bay wetland to the Dama Mitu Wetland 30 kilometers away, which is more abundant in water and grass and larger in the wetland, which is also the first time that Przewalski's wild horses have been released naturally.
This morning, wild horses have emerged from the Mahuan Bay wetland and traveled all the way west. Where is the Mustang currently traveling? What is the status? Will it move forward next?
Ma Li: I am now at a point on the way to release wild horses in the Dunhuang West Lake National Nature Reserve in Gansu Province, about 7 kilometers away from the wild horse exit point Mahuan Bay Wetland in Da Dun. We crouched until the Przewalski's horse entered the grassy beach in front of us.
The three wild horses slowly entered the grass flat, which was different from when they first came out of the pen, when they ran forward at full speed, and gradually slowed down after entering the grass beach. When he first came out of the pen, the Mustang was still a little nervous, but after traveling for a while, he gradually relaxed.
Experts tell us that the wild horses may come to our current area after half an hour to an hour after being released. Finally, forty minutes after the wild horses were released, we waited for the first three wild horses. The first batch of Mustangs has successfully completed the first 7 kilometers of the journey.
After entering the grass beach, wild horses gradually slow down, sometimes stopping to rest, which is also very consistent with the habits of wild horses. After entering unfamiliar areas, they will first explore and slowly familiarize, and when they confirm that the environment is relatively safe, they will continue to travel, looking for water sources and foraging for food.
Under normal circumstances, the Mustang can travel up to 30 kilometers a day. And in the state of running at full speed, it can reach 80 km / h. Today, when wild horses enter this area, they are just walking slowly.
The herd is in a single line, with the highest ranking mare leading and stallions coming last, which minimizes the danger posed to the herd by the changing terrain. Due to the uncertainty and uncontrollability of the release, the selected population did not contain foals, and if there were foals, they would be protected in the middle of the team.
How do you walk a wild horse after coming out of the pen? What arrangements are made by the local staff? When the wild horses are out of the pen, according to their route, herders will ride motorcycles on both sides of the herd, and accompany them about 2 kilometers from the herd. There are also herders riding family horses to follow behind the herd, forming a "U" shaped encirclement to push the herd forward. When the herd's route is deviated, herders can intervene simply.
In fact, as far as the eye can see, the herders cannot be seen. Because wild horses are very vigilant, generally at a distance of 2 kilometers, you can smell a strange breath. So the herders only follow slowly, far away, and even if the herd's route of travel is greatly deviated, they will not forcibly intervene while the herd maintains its state and speed.
After a 5-minute drive ahead, you will enter the Gobi area, and the staff has prepared water points and hay in advance to attract horses. When the temperature drops at night, wild horses smell the cold and humid smell from the direction of the water source, and they will also travel all the way west in search of water.