By Alicia Graef From Care2

After the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced last year that it would abandon a barbaric surgical sterilization experiment on captive wild mares, it seemed they would be safe, but they’re once again at risk.

Unfortunately, the agency has just put forward another proposal for a study aimed at managing herd size by performing outdated and inhumane sterilization surgeries that would remove the ovaries of 100 wild mares who were rounded up from the Warm Springs Herd Management Area in Oregon.

The study was designed to determine the impacts of surgical sterilization on mares to see if it’s a viable solution to managing herds.

The actual procedure mares would be subjected to, which is officially known as ovariectomy via colpotomy, is described by the American Wild Horse Campaign (AWHC) as “literally reaching into a mare’s abdominal cavity through an incision in the vaginal wall, blindly and without any tool to visualize the mare’s organs, to identify the ovaries by touch and to remove them by severing them with a loop of chain.”

If it sounds barbaric, that’s because it is, and even though there has already been massive public outcry, multiple lawsuits and federal injunctions, this is the third time the BLM has tried this – even after two major universities also previously withdrew their participation.

“It’s unconscionable that the BLM is once again attempting to proceed with gruesome sterilization experiments on America’s wild horses, ignoring science and public opinion in the process,” said Brieanah Schwartz, policy counsel for the American Wild Horse Campaign (AWHC). “It is irresponsible and a waste of tax dollars to continue to pursue objectionable experiments while the scientifically recommended and cost-effective PZP vaccine is readily available for humane management right now on the range.”

As the AWHC, Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) and the Cloud Foundation (TFC) have previously noted, the National Academy of Sciences has also warned against performing this procedure, which is going to put these mares at serious risk of pain and potentially life-threatening complications, but that’s basically the point of this study – to see how many mares potentially suffer and die as a result of this procedure.

“It’s obvious that the BLM wants to eradicate wild horses in the West using barbaric surgical procedures performed in an unsterile environment,” said Ginger Kathrens, Director of the TFC and the Humane Advocate on the BLM’s National Wild Horse and Burro Board. “Mares will suffer horrific pain and potential death. Why does the BLM continue to turn its back on proven, humane, reversible fertility control?”

It’s a good question. Is it just plain ineptitude? Is it because the agency is blatantly influenced by the livestock industry? Is it because it was recently emboldened after supposed animal advocacy organizations joined forces with livestock industry lobbying groups and sold out wild horses? Whatever the reason, the continued mismanagement of America’s wild horses and burros is unacceptable, and this latest attempt to move forward with this disturbing experiment – especially with known alternatives available – just proves how far there is to go to see wild horses and burros managed humanely on the range.

While AWHC, TCF and AWI said in a statement that they are considering legal options, but in the meantime we do still have an opportunity to speak out for these mares through a public comment period that’s open until June 12.

TAKE ACTION!

You can help by signing and sharing the petition asking the BLM to shut down this cruel and wasteful study.

Photo credit: Getty Images

For more on this story go to; https://www.care2.com/causes/wild-horses-are-once-again-at-risk-of-barbaric-sterilization-surgeries.html