Wild Mustangs are one of the most fascinating
species on the North American continent - an icon of freedom,
standing proud, making us dream of open lands and times long
gone. Despite all this, these animals have been slowly but surely
deprived of the freedom they stand for, and the pride they represent
has for many been replaced by pure luck of survival.
Managed by the the Bureau of Land Management
(BLM), which also controls public land, the population of the
Mustangs has become a controlled value, determined by statistics.
Mustang herds are rounded up, and individual animals sorted out
for adoption. Not all of these once proud Mustangs are lucky
enough to survive by finding a new home.
According to the BLM, a little more than 32,000 Mustangs are
still roaming free on public land. Too many? Since more and more
public land is sold, the space for the Mustangs is getting smaller.
The approved management level the land may carry while remaining
in good condition has been identified as 28,849. Ranchers complain
about the Mustangs competing with livestock on grassing, thereby
ruining the land. In reality it is estimated that there is only
one single Mustang versus 100 to 200 livestock.
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Herds in specific areas are already smaller than the defined
number of 150 for a healthy population. And the round up goes
on. About 20,000 Mustangs currently live in BLM holding facilities.
In 2004 alone 5,699 Mustangs were adopted and found new homes,
9,252 remained in BLM facilities.
To make the already miserable situation of the Mustang even worse,
a bill has been signed into law making it possible to sell Mustangs
older than 10 years, and those that were rejected from adoption
3 times regardless of their age, without restrictions. That means;
an estimated number of 7,000 to 8,000 Mustangs could easily be
sold for meat production to slaughterhouses, waiting to do their
job. Although the BLM claims to prefer a humane sale, the animals
will go to the highest bidder.
Selling off and slaughtering a living part of American history
can not be right. Therefore RioVida Networks has joined the Mustang
Rally to provide help for non-profit organisations and Mustang
sanctuaries, who provide an almost natural environment for those
animals that can be saved from human irresponsibility. RioVida
Networks invites all of you to become part of the Mustang Rally.
Take action. Save the Mustangs.
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