Nevertheless, half of the “rescued” Konik horses are to be killed

Animal protection organizations have criticized the decision of the Dutch forestry commission (Staatsbosbeheer) to kill 28 of the 55 Konik horses that were transported to the Lauwersmeer herd in Friesland in September.

Animals have been transferred from their former home in the Oostvaardersplassen nature reserve near Lelystad under a court order because they had been exposed to greater burdock, a prickly plant that poses a threat to horses.

Friesland proved to be a reluctant host because, local authorities feared, the horses might pose a threat to agriculture because they might carry burdock seeds in their manes. Lauwersmeer is currently free from this plant, which is difficult to eradicate.

The province initially gave the Staatsbosbeheer a Dec. 1 deadline to find an alternative place to keep the horses, but the organization did not do so.

Not all horses will be slaughtered. The remaining 24 animals received relief and will be able to spend the winter in Lauwersmeer and, if necessary, will receive additional food.

Animal protection groups are furious that despite the judge’s decision, 28 animals will have to be slaughtered. “This is not the way to treat animals,” said animal activist Fenna Swart ANNOUNCEMENT. According to Swart, offers from the Netherlands and abroad to house the animals in other nature reserves have been ignored.

The Staatsbosbeheer stated that she did everything she could to find a place for the animals. “Unfortunately, there is no permanent place for the entire herd in Lauwersmeer. The Staatsbosbeheer considered domestic and international options, but unfortunately they did not come to fruition,” a spokesman told the newspaper.

The animal protection organization Dierenbescherming said it believed the Staatsbosbeheer had made every effort, but was generally critical of the culling of animals in the Oostvaardersplassen. “We want to find a long-term solution for these animals that will limit shooting. It will be necessary to limit the development of herds, for example by using contraceptives,” said spokesman Niels Kalkman.

The shooting in Oostvaardersplassen began in 2019, when 1,830 deer were shot in the reserve. More than half of the 5,230 deer, ponies and cattle living in the reserve died in the winter of 2018, with most of them shot by forestry commission staff due to starvation.

The large mammals were introduced to the reserve in the 1980s and 1990s, which proved a controversial move. Reserve rangers hoped deer and ponies would eat the young shoots, keeping the area open to attract geese and other wetland birds.