Contrasting Interpretations of the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971

I will soon be attending the 2016 Social Impact Conference in Los Angeles, and will be showing my most popular wild horse image (White Mare Approached#1 Close Up), and decided to do a little research. Robert Redford's love, concern and activism on behalf of mustangs includes being on the Board of Return to Freedom Wild Horse Sanctuary, and is a fantastic example of using the Arts and Entertainment to bring attention to an issue, create a social impact and be a change agent. In fact the first photos I took of mustangs was at Return to Freedom in Lompoc, California. My way of being a part of the movement to protect wild horses is to donate 20% of proceeds of my images to nonprofits caring for wild horses.

I decided to do a little research prior to the event and found and interesting contrast of "opinions" - or perhaps I should say emphasis of attention on the protection of wild horses and burros. BLM, the Bureau of Land Management, is charged with the protection and management of wild herds, and they say on their Quick Facts web page (http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/whbprogram/history_and_facts/quick_facts.html) that their role is to "The Bureau of Land Management manages, protects, and controls wild horses and burros under the authority of the 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act (as amended by Congress in 1976, 1978, 1996, and 2004)." (So far so good.) But the very next sentences state, "This law authorizes the BLM to remove excess wild horses and burros from the range to sustain the health and productivity of the public lands. The BLM also manages the nation’s public lands for multiple uses, in accordance with the 1976 Federal Land Policy and Management Act. The Bureau manages wild horses and burros as part of this multiple-use mandate." Which means they go straight to removal and 'multiple uses,' meaning basically allowing for grazing cattle herds on federal land.

I decided to look at the Act they are referring to, and you can too by going to the Quick Facts page (http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/whbprogram/history_and_facts/quick_facts.html) and clicking on the link. The Congressional Findings andDEclaration of Policy is beautiful and meaningful. "Congress finds and declares that wild free-roaming horses and burros are living symbols of the historic and pioneer spirit of the West; that they contribute to the diversity of life forms within the Nation and enrich the lives of the American people; and that these horses and burros are fast disappearing from the American scene. It is the policy of Congress that wild free-roaming horses and burros shall be protected from capture, branding, harassment, or death; and to accomplish this they are to be considered in the area where presently found, as an integral part of the natural system of the public lands."

While it does than discuss the removal of excess wild horses and burros where there is overpo;pulaion, including the multipupose 'clause" the emphasis seems to be on all wildlife species. Here is the exact language. "The Secretary shall manage wild free-roaming horses and burros in a manner that is designed to achieve and maintain a thriving natural ecological balance on the public lands. He shall consider the recommendations of qualified scientists in the field of biology and ecology, some of whom shall be independent of both Federal and State agencies and may include members of the Advisory Board established in section 1337 of this Act. All management activities shall be at the minimal feasible level and shall be carried out in consultation with the wildlife agency of the State wherein such lands are located in order to protect the natural ecological balance of all wildlife species which inhabit such lands, particularly endangered wildlife species. Any adjustments in forage allocations on any such lands shall take into consideration the needs of other wildlife species which inhabit such lands."

Instead the needs of grazing cattle are put above the wild horses and that "balance" falls toward private ranches using federal lands to graze their herds...then we are led to believe that the horses are starving or cannot be sustained on the land. But it is in their removal and in BLM's holding pens that they become unhealthy and emaciated, and a twisting of the Act's values says that to kill them is to protect them.

So you tell me...how quickly does it make you jump to the conclusion of REMOVAL? More than one sentence, I hope!

I am afraid what was intended as a positive things has been turned to the opposite, and the wild horses are the literal victims of unintended consequences. I will not go further into the tragic details, but you can find out more on the Return to Freedom site.

I have photos of these amazing animals that are being protected FROM the Bureau of Land Management in several ways and in two different states. See my Wild Horse and Mustang art gallery at taken pictures that you can find http://heather-kirk.pixels.com/collections/wild+horses+and+mustangs
Any purchases will help support the following agencies. Please visit their sites to find out more!
Return to Freedom in Lompoc, California: http://returntofreedom.org/what-we-do/sanctuary/

The Salt River Wild Horse Management Group is an Arizona non-Profit Organization set up to monitor, study and preserve the Salt River Wild Horses.
https://www.facebook.com/SaltRiverWildHorses?fref=ts
http://saltriverwildhorsemanagementgroup.org/about