Studies On The Comparative Behavior Between Stalled And Reintroduced Przewalskii Horse

The behavior of Przewalskii horse which lives in different conditions of stalled, semi-released and reintroduced in the Xinjiang Prezwalski Horse Breeding and Studying Center, and the Kalamaili Ungulate Reserve in North Xinjiang, were studied in comparative way, including individual, sub-group and group behavior pattern, time budgets and daily activity pattern from July to September in 2003.By the means of focal animal sampling and scanning sampling, systematic data of Przewalskii Horse behavior is obtained, and in comparison with the data from reintroduced Przewalskii horse in Mongolia, the adaptability of the Przewalskii horse is analyzed, and the main conclusions are as follows.1. Behavior pattern of Przewalskii horse such as feeding, drinking and resting have been changed with different conditions, some is enhanced, some is resumed. And these behavior patterns are considered to be gene-dependent, they can be emerged in suitable condition.2. There are significant differences in principal behaviors time budgets between the stalled horses and reintroduced horses. That indicate surviving resources, especial by forages and water source, strongly influences behaviors time budgets.3. Daily activity pattern: Przewalskii horse has partially resumed intrinsic activity pattern with its living condition change. The horse, being a family-based roaming animals has a strong activity pattern controlled by high ranked individual and uniform activity pattern in the family.4. Group behavior: Group (subgroup) behavior in the released horse present much more mutual benefit behaviors than fenced one. This kinds of group behavior cooperation benefit for defending surrounding disturbance, that definitely can be an indicator of the horse naturalization course.5. Home range: by the end of December, 2003, the home range of the horse family has reached 300Km2, moreover, that of bachelor group has at least reached 400Km2, the latter can be presumably approximately 2,000 Km2. That is absolutely an important event in the horse naturalization course.