A new survey shows 79 per cent of Albertans reject the province's plan for managing its wild horse population, and 76 per cent support developing protection for wild horses.
Survey results were released as the province gets set to perform an aerial survey of feral horses over the next few weeks and may look at reducing wild horse populations that exceed thresholds by using contraception or removing horses.
Commissioned by Zoocheck, the Canadian-based international wildlife protection charity said results suggest there is an opportunity for Alberta’s government to better align with public interest in the protection and preservation of Alberta’s wild horse population and their habitat.
“We were not surprised that the vast majority of Albertans want protections for Alberta’s free-roaming Mountain Horses given the high level of public interest and support for wild horses," said Zoocheck campaigns director Julie Woodyer, in a statement.
She said science supports the public's opinion.
"Our review of the rangeland health reports that the province relies on to make management decisions regarding the horses indicate they’re not a problem. As well, we know from the science that horses evolved in North America and that modern day free-roaming horses are genetically equivalent to, and provide the same ecosystem benefits, as their ancestors did 8,000 years ago.”
Alexandru Cioban, spokesperson for the Minister of Forestry and Parks, said the survey only polled 729 individuals, with over 92 per cent responding through social media. Plus, government has concerns that the questions fail to adequately capture the issue of feral horse management in Alberta.
He said the current Feral Horse Management Framework was developed through the Feral Horse Advisory Committee, which includes feral horse advocacy groups, academics, wildlife advocacy groups and other experts using the best available science.
"Due to concerns raised by feral horse advocates, the framework established a minimum population level in which feral horses are recognized on the landscape and no actions will be taken to manage the population. However, modest management actions including adoption and contraception programs may be taken in the equine management zones where populations are above levels agreed to by the committee," Cioban said.
Darrell Glover, founder and president of Help Alberta Wildies Society (HAWS), said the survey, conducted independently by R.A. Malatest and Associates Ltd., would have produced the same results if more than 5,000 were polled.
HAWS maintains that adoption and contraception are unwarranted. Populations are static or declining and these interventions will result in equine genocide.
HAWS will conduct its own aerial survey in February.
"Even though (government) is not going to accept our numbers, we're going to fly it, and we're going to fly further this year than we ever have," Glover said.
"Once we're done with our counts, we'll certainly make them public."
He said the government might not care about the HAWS wild horse count "but who does care are the people who believe us."
"The public will have a very true and honest representation."
