土地管理局（BLM）計劃將內華達州伊利區的11個法定畜群放牧區内的野生馬全數移除。提案一出即令各方野生動物生態學家義憤填膺。
土管局在環評文件中寫道， 620匹現生活在這些放牧區土地上的野生馬，缺乏足夠的飼料和水，並破壞自然景觀。
但內華達州野生動物生態學家唐納（Craig Downer）形容該機構的計劃過於「誇張」。並表示這分明是只顧滿足養殖牲畜、大型狩獵、採礦、石油和天然氣等財團的利益，而枉顧對馬匹或環境可能造成的傷害。
在6月27日寫給伊利區土管局區主任羅斯（John Ruhs）的信中，唐納稱該機構移除野馬的理由為「虛僞和不真實。」
他認爲該機構針對11個放牧區中的兩個地區（希曼區和白河區）所做的環評裏用來消弭野馬的理由，向來為他們所慣用。
説評估的結果「與2007年11月公佈的伊利資源管理計劃提案/最終環境影響報告内容層層相扣。」該機構的結論是，「此時將希曼和白河畜群放牧區内所有野馬清除，以落實其管理方針，並進一步減少目前馬匹過度繁殖所帶來的損害程度，絕對是有必要的。」
但根據唐納的計算， 11個畜群放牧區共佔地138萬6千992英畝。
而目前卻只有620匹馬在區内活動。而土管局卻聲稱，在2007年、2008年、2009年期間監測所收集到的數據結果顯示，野生馬匹的土地使用率為「中度至重度。」
土管局表示，監測報告還指出野生馬為尋找水源，往往會到畜群放牧區外活動。但唐納認為，那是因爲牲畜圍欄讓野馬無法接近現有水源的緣故。
唐納寫道：「很明顯地，在廣大的91萬1千892英畝法定畜群放牧區内，只有270匹野馬在其内活動。也就是說每匹野生馬就有3千377.38英畝的法定活動範圍！」
目前，土管局計劃今年夏天，用直升機將這些區内所有的620匹野生馬圍攏起來。再將他們運到土管局的臨時寄養設施。經過整理後，供合格的個人或長期持有者領養或購買。
自1971年野生馬和驢管制法案開始生效以來，野生馬在19萬多英畝，111個畜群放牧區内不斷遭到全面驅逐出境的命運。
The Bureau of Land Management is planning to eliminate all wild horses from 11 legal herd areas in the agency's Ely District of Nevada, a proposal that has wildlife ecologists up in arms.
In environmental assessment documents, the BLM claims that the 620 wild horses that now live on these lands have inadequate forage and water and are trampling the landscape.
But Nevada wildlife ecologist Craig Downer characterizes the agency's plan as "drastic" and says it is slanted towards satisfying livestock, big game, mining and oil and gas interests without regard for the horses or for the environment.
In a June 27 letter to BLM Ely District Manager John Ruhs, Downer calls the agency's justification for removal of the wild horses "deceptive and untrue."
The agency's environmental assessment of two of the 11 herd areas, Seaman and White River is typical of the agency's justifications for removing the wild horses.
Saying that the assessment "is tiered to the Ely Proposed Resource Management Plan/Final Environmental Impact Statement released in November 2007," the agency concludes, "Removal of all wild horses from the Seaman and White River HA's is needed at this time in order to implement this management direction and to prevent further damage to the range resulting from the current overpopulation."
But Downer calculates that the 11 wild horse herd areas cover a total of 1,386,992 acres, which are currently occupied by just 620 horses.
The BLM claims that monitoring data collected during 2007, 2008, and 2009 shows that utilization by wild horses is "moderate to heavy."
Monitoring also indicates wild horses move outside the herd areas in search of water, the BLM states. Downer argues that livestock fences keep wild horses from accessing the available water.
"I'm sure you realize that with only 270 wild horses in this vast legal wild horse domain summing to 911,892 acres, there are 3,377.38 legal acres for every remaining wild horse!" Downer writes.
At this point, the BLM plans to gather all the 620 wild horses off these lands by helicopter drives this summer. They would be shipped to BLM holding facilities where they will be prepared for adoption or sale to qualified individuals or long term holding.
Since 1971, when the Wild Horse and Burro Act took effect, wild horses have been zeroed out from 111 herd areas representing over 19 million acres.
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In my healing journey and learning to attain the breath awareness, I become aware of the reality that all the creatures of the world are breathing the same breath. Take action, here and now. From my physical being to the every corner of this out of balance's planet.
