The Conquistador Equine Rescue & Advocacy Program (CERAP)

September 28, 2010.  The Bureau of Land Management today began to gather an anticipated 100 wild burros from their ancestral home near Yuma, Arizona.  The BLM  has launched a massive gathering of wild horses and burros across the country.

Helicopters often are used to gather both the horses and the burros.  The helicopters drive the animals over rough terrain for miles.  Many times there are injuries and deaths.  Photographs show helicopters almost on top of the animals and, in some cases, actually touching the animals.  For more information, pictures, video and news commentary of recent gathers, please go to:

http://www.wildhorsepreservation.org/news/

http://idausa.org/campaigns/horses/index.html

http://thecloudfoundation.org/

What you can do:

Educate yourself about the massive gathering of wild horses and burros across the country by the Bureau of Land Management and other federal agencies.  Become aware of the rich history of these gentle animals who have shared the ranges of the United States for centuries and who have contributed much to the establishment and growth of our country.  Contact your elected officials in Washington, DC and ask them to put a stop to the gathers now.

Helicopter actually touching a small burro during a gather.  The burros cannot even run as fast as the horses and, in Arizona, especially near Yuma, September temperatures can still soar.  Photograph courtesy of Herd Watch a program of the Cloud Foundation.

The two photographs above show a helicopter that has singled out one stallion and driven him for miles.  The helicopter is almost on top of the terrified, exhausted horse.