, Last week a beloved fixture of the Nevada countryside lost his life violently and tragically. Sunshine, a well-known stallion who spent many years roaming free in Elko County broke his leg as he ran for his life in terror from a Bureau of Land Management (B.L.M.) helicopter. Sunshine ran on his broken leg for over half an hour until he was finally, unceremoniously, shot to death.
The cruelty and brutality of these government-sponsored roundups cannot be
understated. Sunshine is just one of eleven horses that have lost their lives this month in the ongoing roundups in Nevada. The deaths include five young foals and four horses who broke their necks fleeing from the helicopters.
Species Unite is adding our voice to the growing call from wild horse advocates to suspend the ongoing roundups of wild horses in Nevada. Will you join us?
The B.L.M. is currently conducting two roundup operations in Nevada with plans to remove thousands of horses from public lands. Despite the danger posed by an ongoing heatwave that brought record-setting temperatures to Nevada this past weekend, and despite the high number of horse deaths so far, the Nevada B.L.M. says they have no plans to suspend the operation.
This total disregard for the lives and well-being of these majestic animals is beyond horrific and unacceptable.
Wild horse roundups are violent and dangerous at the best of times, but with the added pressure of ongoing heat warnings in the state even more wild horses are in grave danger of perishing due to a combination of stress, and close confinement in the sweltering conditions.
What Can You Do?
Please join us in speaking out against this heartless lack of empathy for the suffering of wild horses by tweeting John Raby, the Nevada State Director of the B.L.M. at @blmnv. Tell him that eleven horse deaths are eleven too many and they must suspend the roundups.
You can also send an email to BLM_NV_NVSO_web_mail@blm.govor call the Nevada BLM at 775-861-6500. They are open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (PDT). Monday through Friday. You can use the following template:
Dear Mr. Raby, I am writing to urge you to suspend the roundup operations of wild horses in the Ely and Elko districts in the state of Nevada. Eleven horses including Sunshine the stallion did not deserve to die horrible deaths due to the greed of the ranching industry and no other wild horses should have to suffer the same fate. Forcing horses to run for their lives and then packing them into crowded holding pens is cruel, heartless, and inhumane and you must put a stop to it. The ongoing high temperatures in the state will only make these brutal removals worse. Having a veterinarian on site and relying on a woefully inadequate "Comprehensive Animal Welfare Policy" is not enough and more horses are going to pay the price for your negligence. Unless your goal is more horse deaths, you must do the right thing and suspend these roundups. Sincerely,
In gratitude,
Elizabeth Novogratz, Founder and President, Species Unite
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