{"id":418,"date":"2019-11-20T00:01:49","date_gmt":"2019-11-20T05:01:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.zoocheck.com\/podcast\/?p=418"},"modified":"2020-11-30T14:07:24","modified_gmt":"2020-11-30T19:07:24","slug":"wild-horses-julie-woodyer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.zoocheck.com\/podcast\/wild-horses-julie-woodyer\/","title":{"rendered":"Yes! Canada has Wild Horses! – Julie Woodyer"},"content":{"rendered":"

In this informative interview, Julie outlines how wild horses urgently need federal protection if they are to continue to exist in Canada. She underscores how this is a crucial necessity in Alberta in particular, where there are currently only 1,700 wild horses left. Julie also describes three other populations of wild horses across the country: the Sable Island horses of Nova Scotia, The Bronson Forest horses of Saskatchewan, and the Chilcotin horses of B.C.. Despite the fact that wild horses are a reintroduced species, they should be recognized as a native species (as they have originated and co-evolved with their habitat), and are an important part of Canada\u2019s natural history. Julie gives us a wake-up call that they are currently in danger of extinction.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Enacting federal legislation to protect them, rather than the patchwork approach we have today, Julie underscores, would ensure that this iconic beautiful species will still exist for future generations. Furthermore, recognizing wild horses as the descendants of the wild horses that originated in our country would reflect Canada\u2019s humane appreciation of this culturally specific group of animals. Canada\u2019s modern wild horses are distinct in nature and in appearance from other horses, and are genetically equivalent to the wild horses that existed in North America just a few thousand years ago.\u00a0
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\nWild horses are furthermore, Julie tells us, an excellent opportunity for Alberta and the other provinces to attract tourism. They are one of the only wild species that can reliably and happily be observed in their natural environment, and for this reason are a large attraction for visitors and wild horse photographers here in Canada, and around the world. Currently this tourism opportunity is\u00a0under-utilized.
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\nJulie also lets us know that protecting wild horses does not interfere with any other species\u2019 survival. There is no scientific evidence that the horses have created any significant ecosystem degradation. In fact, they serve multiple purposes in helping their ecosystems to thrive.\u00a0
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\n\u201cThe best possible plan would be for the federal government to set up some protection for wild horses in this country, similar to what has been done in the United States\u2026 if we are going to do something in Canada we want something meaningful that will actually provide proper protection for these animals and acknowledge them as important, both culturally and to our biodiversity.\u201d<\/p>\n

Now you know:
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Be part of the change:\u00a0<\/h3>\n