Paul Signs Letter to the Agency Citing Recent Horse Deaths During Antelope Complex Helicopter Roundup, Calls for a Ban
Actress Alexandra Paul has signed an urgent letter on behalf of Lady Freethinker to the Bureau of Land Management demanding that they stop rounding up wild horses after 31 horses in Nevada’s Antelope Complex died during a helicopter roundup.
The letter points out that one of those tragedies, as documented by a Lady Freethinker observer, was a Palomino stallion who had been captured and broke his leg after jumping over the corral. The horse continued to run on his broken, bloody leg for nearly an hour while being chased by wranglers before being shot to death. You can see more photos here.
The letter also notes that fatalities like this are not uncommon during roundups, as horses endure violent deaths every year including from snapped necks, broken bones, and heart failure. Others are tragically separated from their families.
“It is inhumane to drive wild horses from public land into captivity, simply to keep the land for cattle owned by private businesses,” said Paul. “These are wild horses who are then placed in corrals and stalls for the rest of their lives when they should be roaming free with their families. Not one more horse should suffer or die in these insane helicopter roundups. Ban them, and all roundups, for good.”
According to the BLM’s own website, out of the 245 million acres of land they manage, 155 million acres are dedicated to livestock, and just 26.9 million acres are allotted for wild horses and burros.
“America’s iconic wild horses don’t deserve to be chased down in extreme heat, separated from their beloved families, and tragically killed,” said Nina Jackel, founder, and president of Lady Freethinker. “We’re thrilled to have Alexandra joining our call and urge other compassionate people to speak up for horses by signing our petition urging the Bureau of Land Management to halt cruel wild horse roundups.”
Lady Freethinker’s petition – which has garnered over 60,000 signatures – is available here.
Lady Freethinker also recently filed an amicus brief in support of a lawsuit brought by Wild Horse Education against the BLM that sought to immediately end the gathering of wild horses during excessive heat and under inhumane conditions in the Antelope Complex. You can find Lady Freethinker’s full brief here.
About Lady Freethinker
Lady Freethinker is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit working to end animal suffering. LFT gives a voice to those who cannot speak out for themselves and effects meaningful, lasting change through investigative reporting and other media, citizen petitions, and partnerships with rescuers and activists on the ground worldwide. Together, we are changing the way the world sees and treats animals for the better. Learn more at www.ladyfreethinker.org.
Paul’s letter to the National Wild Horse & Burro Advisory Board and BLM Director Tracy Stone-Manning follows:
To The National Wild Horse & Burro Advisory Board and BLM Director Tracy Stone-Manning:
As an avid animal lover and someone who cares deeply about protecting wildlife, I’m writing today to urge the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to ban ALL wild horse roundups, including notoriously cruel helicopter roundups.
A video taken by the nonprofit animal protection group Lady Freethinker (LFT) shows that in July 2023, one stallion who had been captured during the Antelope Complex roundup jumped over the corral to get away, leaving his leg bloody and broken. The horse had become separated from his family and was chased by wranglers for nearly an hour, over an estimated 4 miles, suffering his badly fractured leg before being shot and killed.
Tragedies like this are not unfamiliar to the BLM, since every year wild horses endure violent deaths in the cruel gathers from injuries such as snapped necks, broken bones, and heart failure. Others – including vulnerable foals – are tragically separated from their families.
This abuse must end.
Please help save horses’ lives – and listen to the pleas of thousands of others across the country – by banning inhumane wild horse roundups immediately.
