Endangered ponies in Dartmoor, UK could be facing a major threat, if the UK government doesn't change its policies. Today,
fewer than 1,000 Dartmoor hill ponies are left alive, making their population extremely vulnerable to threats. As a spokesperson for the organization Friends of the Dartmoor Hill Pony
has said, "Genetically, losing even one is a tragedy."
Despite this, under
British policies, specifically through the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), the ponies could end up facing a massive cull.
Sign the petition to demand that DEFRA changes its policies to protect these endangered ponies!For more than 4,500 years, these semi-wild animals have lived in the grassy, boggy area, and the environment has evolved with them. In fact,
they're a crucial part of keeping Dartmoor ecosystems in check. For example - an invasive grass called molinia has started taking over the moor. It is highly flammable and very dry, and is choking out the native plants like heather. But Dartmoor hill ponies eat molinia! So their presence is actually helping to save that entire ecosystem.
Once upon a time - only 27 years ago - around 7,000 ponies called the Dartmoor hills home. Today, the population has plummeted to one-seventh of its earlier size.
This is genetically very dangerous and puts the ponies' community on the brink of collapse. Any amount of culling would be absolutely devastating. And yet it's possible that
around 90% of their population could be killed.Decimating this endangered species goes against scientific evidence and would hurt the entire environment. Additionally, these ponies have lived in the area for thousands of years - this is their home and they have the right to be there!
Sign the petition to demand that the UK update its policies to explicitly protect these endangered hill ponies!