Endangered Przewalski’s horses from Marwell Zooe have been taken to a heathland.

Marwell Wildlife has managed the 195-acre Eelmoor Marsh site since 1995 through conservation grazing, which involves using grazing animals to maintain natural habitats.

The two new male horses, Basil and Takhi, join the Przewalski’s stallions Dorov and Elmo who already live on the site.

They join a herd of 10 Highland cattle that also help maintain the diverse ecosystem at Eelmoor Marsh, which is between Fleet and Farnborough.

The endangered Przewalski’s horses will help graze the land (Image: Ian Goodwin) Carla Broom, ecologist at Marwell, said: "Eelmoor Marsh offers a large, semi-wild habitat for the stallions to explore.

“For the last three decades, these horses have played a crucial part in maintaining Eelmoor as a wildlife haven – their primary purpose on site being for conservation grazing.

“By restoring the natural processes that have been lost due to the absence of large herbivores, the horses help to shape the landscape, without too much human intervention.”

Managing the heathland in this way prevents the encroachment of scrub and invasive plants and encourages the growth of diverse vegetation which makes up a rich mosaic of habitat types.

Carla said: "This is essential for the survival of various plant and animal species at Eelmoor, which now harbours more than 400 species of conservation concern.

“Among these are rare birds such as the Dartford warbler and nightjar, reptiles such as the sand lizard, and specialist invertebrates including the silver-studded blue butterfly.

“Not only does the arrival of these horses ensure that Eelmoor will remain a thriving ecosystem for years to come, it also acts as a flagship for the future – paving the way for pioneering rewilding projects across the world.”

Previously listed Extinct in the Wild on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, the horses have made a remarkable comeback thanks to dedicated breeding and reintroduction programmes.

Przewalski's horses have grazed Eelmoor Marsh, between Fleet and Farnborough, since 1995, giving them the chance to live in a natural social setting, whilst maintaining the heathland and restoring ecological processes.