Are wild horses facing extinction? (US)
As reported by KVBC/HD News 3 | Las Vegas | 13 Oct 08
After a two-day summit in Las Vegas, advocates for our country’s wild horse population have concluded that there are too many horses in holding pens and not enough on the open range.
Many at the summit believe the Bureau of Land Management has rounded up too many horses in the recent years. And as News 3’s Denise Rosch explains, they worry euthanasia is next.
Laurie Howard-Malm says there is nothing her once-wild Mustang can’t do.
“I adopted Cocoa when he was a year-and-a-half old. He’s amazing,” gushes Laurie. “They are highly intelligent and love to work.”
For more than three years, she and her sturdy Pinto have trained and bonded – ever since Cocoa was rounded up, branded, and put up for auction by the federal government.
But as much as Laurie loves her horse, she says she absolutely believes Cocoa and his family should have been allowed to roam free on the range.
Like many in the wild horse community, Laurie thinks the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has taken far too many horses off the open range, leaving them destined to stand around in holding pens for years.
Members of the International Society for the Protection of Mustangs and Burros are therefore looking for solutions, worried that the BLM could start euthanizing animals that aren’t adopted.
Karen Sussman is president of the group. She says it’s their goal to return corralled Mustangs to the wild, despite the BLM’s claim that overpopulation has put a strain on water and food resources.
“Within five years, we may be facing the extinction of wild horses on public lands,” says Karen. “Many areas where wild horses should be returned have livestock grazing on them right now. And many of the removals were based in lieu of livestock grazing.”
Sussman says the habitat has been mismanaged.
As for Laurie and Cocoa, there is no going back.
“He loves to be on the trail,” says Laurie. “He remembers being out there. He sees wild burros and he calls to them.”
The Pinto, born to run wild and free, is now a pet.
