Over 1,000 foals

The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

This winter roundup season has been relentless. In just four months, the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) capture operations have resulted in the deaths of 71 innocent wild horses and the removal of over 7,000 animals from their natural habitats – including more than 1,000 foals. 

Among those captured is Thora, a beautiful six-month-old filly from the McCullough Peaks Herd Management Area.

Thora, alongside companions Tabasco, Trinity, and Juniper, was separated from her mother last month. Despite massive public outcry, the agency plowed ahead with the controversial roundup, which has already taken its toll with the death of the filly Kat Ballou. She suffered a fatal head injury last month after she had been separated from her mother and left unattended in a capture pen.

These tragedies are emblematic of the broader, deepening crisis affecting our nation’s wild horse and burro populations. Thora is just one out of thousands of vulnerable foals who have been removed from their homes and are now languishing in holding facilities. Many more are in danger as the BLM presses ahead with its roundups. That’s why AWHC’s observation program is so important.

To document these roundups and ensure no death or abuse goes unrecorded, AWHC has assembled and trained a team of photographers and videographers who are deployed to some of the most remote corners of the West where these operations occur. The evidence they collect helps us establish an irrefutable pattern of cruelty to prove to members of Congress, the media, and the public that change is desperately needed. And it’s working. The public’s awareness of the plight of wild horses and burros has never been greater. In fact, our grassroots army recently mobilized and sent 23,000 letters to Congress calling for a ban on helicopter roundups.

Our observation program is supported by the generosity of wild-horse champions like you. We need your help to ensure that the world knows what’s happening to foals like Thora and the thousands of others who are rounded up. Will you contribute today to fuel our Observation Fund and ensure no animal welfare violations go unrecorded?

Oftentimes, our representatives are the ONLY ones on site to document any violations taking place. Our observers were present at the East Pershing complex roundup where they documented the capture of 365 foals and the dangerous conditions they faced. They saw firsthand the physical toll on these animals, including injuries and deaths that could have been prevented.

A Foal from the East Pershing Roundup

One of these preventable deaths includes a foal who suffered a dislocated knee during the roundup. After his injury, he was removed from the view of the public and tragically euthanized.

So, chip in whatever you can afford to our Observation Fund and help us hold our federal government accountable by documenting the cruel reality of wild horse and burro roundups!

Thank you,

American Wild Horse Conservation