A team of journalists was
last week taken to Khustai where N.Enkhbold, chairman of the board that runs
the Khustai complex, said that at latest count, the number in the country of
the Mongolian wild horse, or the takhi, stood at 240. Once common on the
Mongolian steppes, the animal ended up in the Red Book of endangered species
some decades ago.

A rehabilitation program
began in 1992 when 87 takhis from zoos in the Netherlands were sent in three
groups and their number has been growing steadily. This summer around 40 foals
will be born. Seven of the nine foals born this spring are doing well. The
success of the program owes much to Jan Bauman, a Dutch billionaire who is now
buried in Khustai according to his wishes. His widow Inga continues to support
the Khustai Complex with an annual donation of USD20,000.