Przewalski's Horse


Book Description

Przewalski's horse, the only true horse never to have been domesticated, is believed to be extinct in the wild. Experts from around the world come together in this book and offer a complete synthesis of knowledge about the species to date. Topics included are taxonomy, morphology, former geographic distribution, history in captivity, the studbook, genetics, population biology, nutrition, veterinary care, reproduction, and behavior. Implications for management are also included and are especially relevant in light of recent plans to attempt the reintroduction of Przewalski's horses into the wild. This book provides a valuable reference to those charged with managing this endangered species in captivity and implementing its reintroduction.




Przewalski’s Horses


Book Description

Przewalski’s horses look like tan zebras without stripes. They grow a longer, heavier coat to help keep them warm in winter. Learn more about the history and features of this hardy breed in Przewalski’s Horses, part of the All About Horses series.




The Age of the Horse


Book Description

A “superb” account of the enduring connection between humans and horses—“Full of the sort of details that get edited out of more traditional histories” (The Economist). Fifty-six million years ago, the earliest equid walked the earth—and beginning with the first-known horse-keepers of the Copper Age, the horse has played an integral part in human history. It has sustained us as a source of food, an industrial and agricultural machine, a comrade in arms, a symbol of wealth, power, and the wild. Combining fascinating anthropological detail and incisive personal anecdote, equestrian expert Susanna Forrest draws from an immense range of archival documents as well as literature and art to illustrate how our evolution has coincided with that of horses. In paintings and poems (such as Byron’s famous “Mazeppa”), in theater and classical music (including works by Liszt and Tchaikovsky), representations of the horse have changed over centuries, portraying the crucial impact that we’ve had on each other. Forrest combines this history with her own experience in the field, and travels the world to offer a comprehensive look at the horse in our lives today: from Mongolia where she observes the endangered takhi, to a show-horse performance at the Palace of Versailles; from a polo club in Beijing to Arlington, Virginia, where veterans with PTSD are rehabilitated through interaction with horses. “For the horse-addicted, a book can get no better than this . . . original, cerebral and from the heart.” —The Times (London)







The Last Wild Horses


Book Description

Translated into 40 languages, winner of the Norwegian Bookseller’s Prize, and the most successful Norwegian author of her generation, Maja Lunde returns with a heart-wrenching tale, set in the distant past and the dystopian future, about extinction and survival, family and hope. Mikhail lives in Russia in 1881. When a skeleton of a rare wild horse is brought to him, the zoologist plans an expedition to Mongolia to find the fabled Przewalski horse, a journey that tests not only his physicality, but his heart.In 1992, Karin, alongside her troubled son Mathias and several Przewalski horses, travels to Mongolia to re-introduce the magnificent horses to their native land. The veterinarian has dedicated her life to saving the breed from extinction, prioritizing the wild horses, even over her own son. Europe’s future is uncertain in 2064, but Eva is willing to sacrifice nearly everything to hold onto her family’s farm. Her teenage daughter implores Eva to leave the farm and Norway, but a pregnant wild mare Eva is tending is about to foal. Then, a young woman named Louise unexpectedly arrives on the farm, with mysterious intentions that will either bring them all together, or devastate them one by one. Spanning continents and centuries, The Last Wild Horses is a powerful tale of survival and connection—of humans, animals, and the indestructible bonds that unite us all. Translated from the Norwegian by Diane Oatley




The Photo Ark


Book Description

This book of photography represents National Geographic's Photo Ark, a major cross-platform initiative and lifelong project by photographer Joel Sartore to make portraits of the world's animals -- especially those that are endangered. His message: to know these animals is to save them. Sartore intends to photograph every animal in captivity in the world. He is circling the globe, visiting zoos and wildlife rescue centers to create studio portraits of 12,000 species, with an emphasis on those facing extinction. He has photographed more than 6,000 already and now, thanks to a multi-year partnership with National Geographic, he may reach his goal. This book showcases his animal portraits: from tiny to mammoth, from the Florida grasshopper sparrow to the greater one-horned rhinoceros. Paired with the prose of veteran wildlife writer Douglas Chadwick, this book presents an argument for saving all the species of our planet.




The Tale of the Przewalski's Horse


Book Description

For tens of thousands of years wild horses roamed over thegrasslands of Europe and Asia. Their endurance and agility madethem the perfect partner for man during his conquest of the world.The loss of importance of the domesticated horses for thecavalries of the world coincided with the disappearance of thelast horses from the wild. Around 1900 some wealthy collectorsrushed to the edge of the Gobi desert to catch a few specimen fromthe last marginalised groups of the proud horse that scientistsbaptised the `Przewalski's horse', after the Polish explorer whohas discovered them. Only twelve of these captured wild horseslive on in their present offspring.In the 1970s the Dutch couple Jan and Inge Bouman decided todedicate their life to the ideal of bringing the Przewalski'shorse back to the wild. This book tells their success story. Itmarks a breakthrough in the way we look at reintroduction projectsof endangered species. The Przewalski's horse or `Takh', as theMongolians call it, has played a catalytic role for the protectionof the mountain steppe ecosystem of Hustai National Park and itssurroundings. It paved the way for the development of integratedpasture management and livelihood improvement of the localherdsmen.




Evolutionary Genomics


Book Description

Together with early theoretical work in population genetics, the debate on sources of genetic makeup initiated by proponents of the neutral theory made a solid contribution to the spectacular growth in statistical methodologies for molecular evolution. Evolutionary Genomics: Statistical and Computational Methods is intended to bring together the more recent developments in the statistical methodology and the challenges that followed as a result of rapidly improving sequencing technologies. Presented by top scientists from a variety of disciplines, the collection includes a wide spectrum of articles encompassing theoretical works and hands-on tutorials, as well as many reviews with key biological insight. Volume 2 begins with phylogenomics and continues with in-depth coverage of natural selection, recombination, and genomic innovation. The remaining chapters treat topics of more recent interest, including population genomics, -omics studies, and computational issues related to the handling of large-scale genomic data. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular BiologyTM series format, this work provides the kind of advice on methodology and implementation that is crucial for getting ahead in genomic data analyses. Comprehensive and cutting-edge, Evolutionary Genomics: Statistical and Computational Methods is a treasure chest of state-of the-art methods to study genomic and omics data, certain to inspire both young and experienced readers to join the interdisciplinary field of evolutionary genomics.




The Winter Horses


Book Description

From Philip Kerr, the New York Times bestselling author of the Bernie Gunther novels, comes a breathtaking journey of survival in the dark days of WWII in Ukraine, a country that remains tumultuous today. This inspiring tale captures the power of the human spirit and is perfect for fans of The Book Thief, Milkweed, and The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. It will soon be another cold winter in the Ukraine. But it's 1941, and things are different this year. Max, the devoted caretaker of an animal preserve, must learn to live with the Nazis who have overtaken this precious land. He must also learn to keep secrets—for there is a girl, Kalinka, who is hiding in the park. Kalinka has lost her home, her family, her belongings—everything but her life. Still, she has gained one small, precious gift: a relationship with the rare wild and wily Przewalski's horses that wander the preserve. Aside from Max, these endangered animals are her only friends—until a Nazi campaign of extermination nearly wipes them out for good. Now Kalinka must set out on a treacherous journey across the frozen forest to save the only two surviving horses—and herself.




Straight from the Horse's Heart


Book Description

Loosely autobiographical, thirty vignettes make up this collection that features a wide range of equine stories, each sharing a sense of love, loss, and survival.