Horse census before cull possible
Taking a census of the population of Kaimanawa wild horses seems on the cards, following a tour of their range by new Minister of Conservation Nick Smith last week. The tour included Rangitikei MP Dennis Marshall, who is the former Minister of Conservation, and Department of Conservation officer Bill Fleury and regional conservator Bill Carlin. "The Minister made the point about the coalition agreement that a further census would be undertaken before a planned muster in autumn to try and get some sort of consensus over the method," said Mr Marshall.
He said the horses' herd had expanded in size and the area it covered and was now estimated at between 2000 and 2500 animals — the same size it was when the last major muster was done two years ago. "If it increases at 17 to 1 8 percent a year then it doesn't take many seasons for it to get up to the same size." "Some big decisions will have to be made this year." Mr Marshall said he was pleased Mr Smith was focusing on the problem early in his term. He said the Minister would now have to decide how the census is carried out and the nature of the muster.
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Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 14, Issue 671, 28 January 1997, Page 3
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209Horse census before cull possible Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 14, Issue 671, 28 January 1997, Page 3
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