Wild Horse: Return to the Gobi Desert (Notes from a Desert Girl)

Author: Zhang Hefan
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-08-01
Features:
Listen to—The moving stories of wild horses in the wilderness
Savor—The inner emotions of a desert girl
Learn about—Valuable on-site materials
Read—Original ecological literature
The book Wild Horses: Returning to Kalamayli by Zhang Hefan, a girl who raised wild horses in the Xinjiang desert for many years, has been officially published. It is the second important work about wild horses published in China. The publication value of this book is highlighted by the following points:
1. Significance of Warning: The book vividly depicts the survival plight of an endangered wild animal on Earth: over the past century, wild horses have declined from natural wilderness to artificial captivity, experiencing continuous degeneration. Currently, there are only about 1,400 wild horses worldwide, fewer than giant pandas. Wild horses can only truly be revived on Earth by being returned to the wilderness, completing a series of natural survival tests in Kalamayli—natural reproduction, survival, herd formation, wintering, and overcoming predators. This central theme addresses a major issue for the planet and the environment, one that humans cannot afford to ignore. Saving and reviving the wild horse species, preserving its ancient genetic heritage that has evolved over 60 million years, is equivalent to safeguarding a vast treasure trove of genetics and ensuring that humans respect the existence of another species on Earth, with the opportunity to coexist harmoniously.
2. Experience of Animal Emotions: The book not only writes about the natural instincts of wild horses but also portrays their intricate emotional world, including love, family bonds, separation, and death. This is the most touching part of the book. The author experiences the joys, sorrows, and struggles of each wild horse as if they were family, friends, children, or even herself. She describes the love between wild horses, their heart-wrenching love from behind bars, and their forced separation in a poignant and moving way, portraying the death of a horse as if it were the death of a human. As an ecological literary work, it may still fall short of the writing standards of masters like Prishvin’s Drops in the Forest or Fabre’s The Insect World, but it is more than just a rational observation of nature from an objective standpoint. It is an emotional immersion, a spiritual exchange with nature, and a profound focus on and understanding of alternative life forms.
3. Unveiling the Inner Workings of the Wild Horse Kingdom: The book also reveals the social structure within wild horse herds, particularly the "survival of the fittest" rule and the hierarchical system. Each member of the herd has its own role and position, acting according to the group’s rules—some assert dominance and enjoy privileges, while others submit and accept control. If someone violates the rules, they may face conflict and battle, often resulting in a change of leadership and herd.
4. Showcasing a Girl’s Inner World: A girl lives in the desert by communicating with a group of horses. She writes about another species with an attitude of equality while also revealing her own inner transformation, disclosing how deeply humans can be attached to horses, and how horses can provide spiritual strength and comfort. Humans and horses share common ground: a love and desire for freedom.
5. Rich Materials: The book includes 27 small facts about wild horses; nearly 100 images are accompanied by detailed explanations, most of which correspond accurately to the main text, creating a complementary relationship between text and visuals. The appendix contains statistical data and charts on the domestic breeding of wild horses, providing accurate references for readers and professionals. The book is composed of four parts: the main text, images, small facts, and an appendix, forming a cohesive structure that blends documentary and lyrical writing, with text and images in harmony. The book is highly readable and engaging, resembling a captivating animal story collection.