An agency of the Alberta government says the wild horse population there has grown too large and needs a cull. Protesters disagree and want a recount
Photo Credit: Wild Horses of Alberta Society

Wild horse cull in Alberta sparks protest

The government of the western Canadian province of Alberta says there are too many feral horses.

It wants to remove 200 of them from the environment saying they compete with other wildlife for food and space.

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Red balloon indicates Sundre, Alberta © Wiki-RCI

Each year, Alberta surveys the feral horse population and decides whether to give out licences to capture the animals which are sometimes kept for personal use, or simply sold for slaughter.

A spokesperson for  Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development (ESRD) said it determined that a cull of about 20% was needed this year after conducting its survey by helicopter.

It estimates there are 980 feral horses in the area around Sundre, up from 853 last year.

A national group, the Canadian Wild Horse Foundation has sent a petition to Ottawa asking that the horses be declared a heritage animal to protect them. They also dispute the ESRD numbers and are asking for a recount.

Provincial biologist say the animals are not true wildlife because they are descendants of domestic horses used in mining and logging operations in the 1900’s.

Adrienne Calvert of the CWHF disputes that. She says, “”We should be looking deeper into these animals before we simply state that they’re ‘barnyard escapees,’ which they clearly are not,”

She added, “These are animals that have been out there for hundreds of years. They are wildlife. They are native wildlife and they need to be protected as such.”

One licence has already been granted for the Sundre area which prompted about 50 protesters to demonstrate in Calgary, saying that many horses could die in the roundup, while survivors will end up in the slaughter house.

Alberta last issued a capture order in 2011 when 216 horses were culled.

This year the cull will last until March 1.

Categories: Environment & Animal Life
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