Years of intensive cattle farming and eucalyptus cultivation has taken a toll on Pangea’s land, and we are working to restore ecological balance through a mix of rewilding and sustainable land management techniques.  This weekend, we took a key step forward on our nature recovery journey with the introduction of wild horses.

Native to Portugal, the Sorraia horse is among the world’s rarest equine breeds and was first identified in the Sorraia River Valley in the 1920s by zoologist Dr. Ruy d’Andrade. Sadly, their numbers dwindled to near extinction, but it is hoped that numbers will grow with dedicated breeding programs. Today, only a few hundred Sorraias remain globally, primarily in Portugal and Germany.

These resilient herbivores played a key role in maintaining the health of Mediterranean ecosystems. As all-year-round natural grazers, they help reduce wildfire risks, improve soil health, and encourage native plant growth, which creates habitats that support pollinators, mammals, and birds.

The initiative is run in partnership with Rewilding Portugal who have already demonstrated success in the Greater Côa Valley.  Their release at Pangea is a first for them in the Alentejo region.

The event brought together key members of the Pangea team and its partners, including HRH Princess Diana d’Orléans, Duchess of Cadaval, Pangea’s Royal Patron, Pangea Development Board Members Ruth Ganesh and Anna Isserman, and Rewilding Portugal team members Jose Fontes and Gonçalo Matos.

Jose Fontes, Rewilding Portugal’s Project Manager, said “We’ve worked with various large herbivores to fill the ecological role of natural grazers, and the Sorraias have proven excellent at breaking up shrubland, creating better conditions for other wildlife. That’s why we recommended their introduction to Pangea. They inherited their resilience from their primitive ancestors, and they are such beautiful animals – an absolute pleasure to work with.”