Horses returned in bid to boost herd

Ancient species narrowly avoided extinction thanks to zoo programs

TAKHIN TAL, Mongolia - Their violent kicks rattle the small army plane flying over Siberia as it transports the four rare horses from Prague to the vast Mongolian steppe where the once near-extinct species is slowly recovering.

Known as Przewalski's horses, the ancient species has narrowly avoided extinction thanks to breeding programs at zoos worldwide and is now gradually being reintroduced to a wildlife reserve in its original homeland.