The Royal Canadian Mounted Police announced on Tuesday the discovery of 17 feral horses killed in the province of British Columbia. The horse bodies were discovered near the community of Walhachin, 65 kilometers west of Kamloops and 370 kilometers northeast of Vancouver. The federal institution indicated that the animals were “recently killed” and asks for the support of the population to find those responsible. There are no suspects to date.

In a statement, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) said it received information about the bodies of the horses last Friday. A group of officers visited the area and found the bodies, which had bullet holes. They were scattered over a distance of two kilometers of forest. The RCMP Forensic Identification Section examined the scene, along with a veterinarian and a livestock investigator. “The reason for this devastating act cannot be confirmed at this time,” police said, stressing that investigations were continuing.

RCMP said the 17 equines are part of a group of approximately 250 feral horses that live in this area of ​​British Columbia. The federal police clarified that these animals have great cultural importance for the indigenous reserve sketchmade up of community members shuswap. Leaders of said reserve on Wednesday expressed sadness over the discovery. “We are connected to all walking, flying and swimming animals, and it is our responsibility to ensure that all life is respected and cared for,” they said in a written statement. “We mourn the needless loss of the wildlife with whom we share this beautiful landscape,” they added.

About 1,000 wild horses currently live in British Columbia. There are also groups of these equines in the provinces of Nova Scotia, Alberta and Saskatchewan. Wayne McCrory, Canada’s renowned wildlife researcher, told The Canadian Press that it’s time to increase the protection of wild horses, both in provincial and federal legislation, because of their importance “to Canadian heritage, Canadian cultures, Indigenous peoples and ecosystems”.

Many Indigenous communities in Canada have strong ties to these and other animals; relationships affected on various occasions by poaching and trigger-happy. In November 2020, leaders of the Flying Post Indian Reservation (located in the province of Ontario) denounced the death of a white elk, considered a sacred animal among its members.

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