UPDATE: 196 Wild Horses Rounded Up In Utah, Including 39 Foals; Two Deaths Reported
The heartbreaking roundup of wild horses in Utah’s Sulphur Herd Management Area continues, with nearly 200 of these magnificent animals, including dozens of young foals, removed from their natural habitat.
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196 wild horses rounded up, including 39 foals
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194 horses transported to off-range holding facilities
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2 deaths reported
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0 horses released back into the wild
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Approximately 300 horses targeted for removal
Tragically, the BLM reported the deaths of two mares on October 4. One was a nine-year-old grulla mare with a broken right front leg. The other was a 17-year-old brown mare with lameness in her right front leg and a swollen knee, which the agency described as having a hopeless prognosis for recovery.
The BLM classified one death as sudden or acute and the other as involving a pre-existing or chronic condition.
These heartbreaking losses raise serious concerns about the welfare of wild horses during roundup operations and the devastating impact these removals can have on individual animals and their herds.
The roundup began October 2 and is tentatively scheduled to continue through October 14. According to the BLM, no horses were rounded up on October 10 or 11 due to weather conditions, although 29 previously captured horses were transported on October 10.
Spanning approximately 265,711 acres in western Utah, the Sulphur Herd Management Area is home to a historic population of wild horses, some of which display distinctive characteristics associated with Colonial Spanish horses.
The BLM maintains that the helicopter roundup is necessary to address population levels and limited water and forage availability. However, wild horse advocates remain concerned about the separation of family herds and the long-term fate of horses removed from public lands.
The horses are being transported to the Sutherland Off-Range Contract Wild Horse Facility near Delta, Utah, where the BLM states they will receive veterinary evaluations and be prepared for the federal adoption and sale program.
“This is not the life we want for these beautiful beings.”
The organization further emphasized:
“Wild and free is where they belong.”
World Animal News and Peace 4 Animals continue to strongly advocate for the protection of America’s wild horses and their right to remain in their natural habitat alongside their families and herds.
These remarkable animals are an irreplaceable part of America’s natural heritage. Their protection deserves greater transparency, compassion, and a commitment to humane, science-based alternatives that prioritize keeping wild horses free.
