"Our respect for other species sharing this planet with us is a good barometer of the condition of the human spirit. In this case, not so good." Producer Michael NeitzelWild horses roam the foothills west of the Sundre in the Rocky Mountains, an area of over 10000 sq km in Alberta. In total their numbers are estimated at about 200 head. These horses are incredibly beautiful, healthy and strong, survivors in the wild, preyed upon by cougars, wolves, and grizzlies, where only the smartest and best survive by a system of natural selection.
Un-protected and un-recognized by the government, shot for bear bait, chased, corralled, and sent for slaughter without any fear of criminal prosecution, these last of Alberta's wild horses are on the run for their lives.
In April of 2009, news broadcasters across Canada shocked their audiences by reporting the brutal and senseless slaughter of another three of these wild horses, left to die a horrifying death. One of the horses was a young mare, just giving birth to her foal, the tiny hooves clearly visible. Another was a young stallion, shot in the stomach, left to die a horrific death. There had been 29 similar killings in the past five years.
DNA testing and studies of wild horses are beginning to shine a different light on the part these animals play in our eco-system. It is time to stop the killing and protect other species on this planet besides ourselves.
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