Aus

Gemsboks

On the desert plains west of Aus live some of the world’s only wild desert-dwelling horses. Among the several theories about the origins of these eccentric equines is the one that suggests they’ve descended from German Schutztruppe cavalry horses abandoned during the South African invasion in 1915. Others claim they were brought in by Nama riders moving north from beyond the Orange River. Another claims they are shipwrecked horses en route from Europe to Australia. Still, others maintain they’ve descended from the stud stock of Baron Captain Castle, who set off for Germany in search of more horses but was killed in battle in France and never returned to Namibia.
At present, the population fluctuates between 150 and 160, but there have never been more than 280 individuals. Their only source of water is Garub Pan, which is fed by an artificial bore hole.