The Przewalski is the oldest variety of horse in existence today and is considered endangered. on a global scale by the Red List of Threatened Species of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
It is estimated that around 2.000 specimens survive, distributed between captive breeding centers and a few locations where they live in the wild or in semi-freedom. Horses with their characteristics appear painted by our Paleolithic ancestors in caves such as those of Lascaux (France).
In June 2017 we rescue four horses Przewalski's monkey from the closed zoo in Almuñécar, Granada. The FAADA foundation, through Laura Riera, which is in charge of relocating all the animals at the zoo, made the request to the Miranda Foundation and has facilitated the procedures for the relocation of the horses.
By agreement signed by the Foundation with the Boumort National Hunting Reserve (Generalitat de Catalunya), these primitive horses that have almost become extinct live in supervised freedom in 3.000 hectares of the Reserve, where we have an incipient project (Catalonia wild horses) of reproduction, reintroduction, observation and dissemination.
This project is in the initial design and development phase. It is currently focused on taking care of the welfare of the horses, and in the future it is planned to reproduce and gradually conquer part of the extensive territory of the Reserve (13.000 hectares).
The space and its extension give the project a uniqueness that could make it unique in Europe and coherent with the Miranda Foundation's purpose of promoting free life of horses and the custody of the territory with the introduction of this large herbivore.
The project also plans to carry out studies on horse behavior and its effect on the vegetation of the Reserve, for which the collaboration of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the University of Lleida, and the Forestry Technology Center of Catalonia will be counted. Likewise, its tourist and educational valorization is contemplated, through guided tours that are currently being designed, within the framework of the project to revitalize the Boumort RNC, approved by the Advisory Board of the Reserve.
The promoters of the initiative thank the collaboration of all the people and entities that have made this transfer possible: entities, veterinary professionals, staff of the Almuñécar Zoo, transporter and guards of the reserve, as well as the Almuñécar City Council and the Catalunya-La Pedrera Foundation that contacted the Miranda Foundation with the Boumort Management.