Tarpan | Facts & Information

Tarpan

The Tarpan - a European extinct species of wild horse

The Tarpan, also known as Equus ferus ferus, was a species of wild horse native to Europe. This animal represented a primitive form of domestic horse, but with wild characteristics, living in large groups and roaming through European forests and plains. Unfortunately, the Tarpan is considered extinct, with the last known specimen being recorded in 1909. However, it remains one of the most fascinating species of prehistoric animals, captivating the imagination of people and representing an example of the diversity and evolution of life on Earth.

Origin and distribution of the Tarpan in Europe
The Tarpan had a wide geographic distribution in Europe, living in regions from the south and east of the Baltic Sea to present-day Belarus and the Crimean Peninsula. It is believed that this species of wild horse appeared in Europe approximately 25,000 years ago, during the Ice Age, when the landscapes of the continent were covered by tundra and extensive forests.

Physical and behavioral characteristics
The Tarpan had similar dimensions to domestic horses, but with a solid constitution, strong legs, and a gray or dark brown coat, contrasting with a white patch around the muzzle. The Tarpan also had a wide rump and a large, fluffy tail, similar to domestic horses. With a height ranging from 130 to 140 cm at the withers, the Tarpan was a robust and resilient animal, adapted to harsh environmental conditions.

The Tarpan lived in a well-established social hierarchy, where a group was led by an older stallion and then by other young males. Females were responsible for raising and caring for the young. These animals were wild and carefully avoided contact with humans. They fed on grass, plants, and tree bark. They were also known for their extraordinary speed and ability to jump small obstacles.

The disappearance of the Tarpan and conservation efforts
Although the Tarpan lived in large numbers in Europe, especially in eastern regions, this species of wild horses began to be threatened by poaching and the destruction of their natural habitat. Hunters and livestock breeders captured them for their fur and meat, and the development of agriculture and the increase in the human population deprived them of their natural living spaces.

The last Tarpan captured in the wild was a horse named "Lângă Berlin," caught and thrown into a zoo in the capital of Germany at the beginning of the 20th century. However, the last specimen of wild Tarpan of pure morphology was photographed in 1918 and, unfortunately, died in the pond of a zoo in Ukraine in 1909. Thus, the Tarpan disappeared completely before the start of World War II.

Although the Tarpan disappeared in the wild, efforts have been made to recover this species through artificial breeding. Scientists and animal lovers wanted to bring the Tarpan back to life by crossing domestic horses with the genetic remnants of the Tarpan. As a result, breeds such as "Konik," "Heck," and "Dinavia" were created, carrying traits of the ancestral Tarpan in their genes.

In conclusion, the Tarpan remains one of the most fascinating and impressive extinct animal species in Europe. With a wild and resilient appearance, large populations of Tarpans lived freely across the entire continent before their extinction. However, through conservation and breeding efforts, hope for the rediscovery of the Tarpan has taken on a new meaning, and the breeds created with the genes of the ancestral Tarpan are a living testimony of a bygone era and the richness of Europe's biodiversity.