[ISL] "Sable Island horses should be removed, says biologist"

[rfmcdonald]

CBC reported these weekend just past on a proposal that the herd of horses on Sable Island, almost literally a giant sand bank several hundred kilometres southeast of Nova Scotia, be removed to the mainland. Biologist Ian Jones makes a convincing two-pronged argument, that the non-native horses not only are damaging a fragile environment but that they themselves are suffering in an environment that cannot support them in health.

According to a scientific report ordered by Parks Canada, excessive inbreeding, a tiny population and extreme weather linked to global warming all pose risks of extinction to the fabled horses. Parks Canada is the newly appointed custodian of the historic sand crescent that lies about 175 kilometres off the Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia.

The herd, first introduced to the island in the 1760s and left to fend for itself since 1960, now numbers more than 500 animals but the population could drop precipitously after just one harsh winter, with food hard to access under heavy snow or ice, according to the study. The ponies also may suffer from low genetic diversity, making them less resilient to disease and prone to reproductive failure.

But Jones argues the horses "hurt" the island and "cause destruction."

"Remote island ecosystems are the most endangered ecosystems," he said. "Sable Island is such a place and the horses are modifying the island. They need to be removed."

Jones adds that the island's environment is hurting the horses.

"I love horses ... and I certainly wish the very best for those horses," he said. "Every bite they take, they get a mouthful of sand and grass. Their teeth are wearing away. They endure a lot of suffering because of the climate.

"If you or anyone kept horses in these conditions on your farm, you would be charged and convicted with cruelty to animals."