Ten Przewalaski's horses were set free in northwest China's Junggar Basin after being raised at Przewalaski's Horse Propagation Centre (PHPC) in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, 240 kilometres from where they were released into the wild.

After a 10-day-tracking, experts have found they are all surviving independently in nature.

"We can't really say they've already adapted to the wild environment because it's too soon," said Wang Zhishan, an official with the PHPC.

The horses, named after a Russian in 1881 who hunted and collected this breed, are rarer than pandas and on China's first-class endangered species list.

Less than 1,000 Przwalaski's horses are now kept in zoos and by horse-breeders around the world. The center now has more than 140 of them.

This is the second time the center has released horses into the wild.

Twenty-seven were set free in August 2001, but four died of hunger and hypothermia, one was reported missing and some newborn foals were killed by others in the group.

"Fortunately, there are still some left," said Wang. "The group is growing."

Three foals born last year are still healthy and there have been another two born since.

They will face immense challenges adapting back to the wild after a life of relative luxury at the breeding centre, now having to fight their own territorial battles and find their own water sources.

Summer and the first month of autumn should be the easiest time but drought has become an even more severe problem in the Junggar Basin. How to survive the winter is still the biggest obstacle.

Wang says the center sent experts out to help them through it last year.

Living in the wild may be tough, but captivity, where there is no room to run, mate or get used to the environment, was not the answer, said director of the center Cao Jie.

(China Daily August 9, 2004)