California plans to round up 1,000 wild horses

LOS ANGELES: One thousand wild horses are to be rounded up in California by the United States Forest Service, and animal rights activists fear hundreds of them could be sold for slaughter.

The Modoc National Forest in northeast California plans to start the round up and removal of the horses on Tuesday from the Devil’s Garden Plateau Wild Horse Territory, according to a statement on its website.

The more than 101,171ha territory was designated for up to 402 adult horses, but their population has grown to almost 4,000.

That has impacted the health of horses as they compete for limited food. It has also harmed scarce water sources, native grasses and other wildlife.

“It’s time we took a more active approach taking care of the horses, taking care of the landscape,” Amanda McAdams, Modoc National Forest supervisor, said.

Under the plan, horses aged 10 and older will be available for adoption or sale, with limitations, next month. Younger animals are also up for adoption.

A purchase agreement on the website states buyers must agree not to resell horses for slaughter.

The American Wild Horse Campaign claimed that the Forest Service plans to exploit a loophole to sell old horses, numbering 300, “without restriction”, thus allowing buyers to ship them to Canada for slaughter.