[FWD] Why roundup documentation is so important
The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:
| We know that on a Monday afternoon you’re probably quite busy, but this is important:
Today is the last day of our fundraising drive to bolster our critical Observation Fund, but as of right now, we’re still about $7,000 away from our $30,000 goal. Right now, helicopters are flying in California and are set to take off in Nevada soon, so we can’t afford to fall short.
To read more about the critical role that observers play in our work, check out the email from Scott that we’ve forwarded below if you haven’t already seen it. Raising these funds is the only way our team can document and call attention to the widespread abuse of horses and burros at these federal roundups — please pitch in if you are able to!
Thank you in advance for your help, AWHC Team ———- Forwarded message ——— Hi, I’m Scott, a photoadvocate and spokesperson for the American Wild Horse Campaign. I reside in Colorado, and have been photographing the wild herds that roam the state’s public lands for a few years now. In 2021, I became heavily invested in this issue when I got word in that my local herd in Sand Wash Basin was going to be rounded up. To me, it felt personal – I had to do something. Together with advocates and local and national organizations, we worked hard to put a stop to the roundup. We garnered national media attention and got the ear of state and federal officials who tried to compel the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to call off the operation. Ultimately, the operation proceeded, but I take some solace in the fact that less horses were removed, and the agency told us that this herd will likely never face a helicopter stampede again. While on the ground at the operation, I documented everything – telling stories of triumph and escapes, reunifications and the tragic injuries and deaths. More attention was garnered as a result of this documentation, and our chorus of advocates grew. Since that time, I have documented the removal operations of more Colorado wild herds. Most recently, I was on the ground at the controversial West Douglas Herd Area roundup, where every single wild horse was forcibly taken from the lands they have called home for centuries. We couldn’t let this removal happen in vain – the team at AWHC took my reports and photographs and disseminated them to the media. The results have been impactful – the Steamboat Pilot featured roundup coverage on its front page while other regional outlets including the Colorado Sun, the Durango Herald, Colorado Public Radio, Westword, and CBS used our imagery, information and quotes to let my fellow Coloradans know what was happening to our wild horses.
We know that when the American people hear about what’s happening to these beloved animals, they are outraged. It’s our job to build public awareness and the grassroots army necessary to rise up and advocate for the conservation of America’s mustangs and burros. Observing, documenting, and disseminating video and photos of the roundups is essential to raising this awareness. Thank you so much for being a part of our advocacy efforts. Scott Wilson
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