There is a law in the United States that sounds like the title of a romantic western: the "Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act." Passed in 1971, it is unique in the world: animals legally considered "wild" received protection on federal lands. No other country has such a law. Behind it is a long history of struggle, cruelty, and hope. Today, this law is both a shield and a stumbling block. We tell you how it works, why it is needed, and why it causes disputes. Background: how mustangs became a problem When Europeans brought horses to America, many escaped or were released. By the 19th century, millions of mustangs roamed the prairies. Farmers and cattlemen considered them competitors for pastures and water. Mass extermination began: mustangs were shot, poisoned, caught for vivisection (sold for cat food, fertilizers). By the 1950s, the population had decreased to 25,000-30,000 individuals. A campaigner for mustangs, Wilma J. Barrett ("Wild Horse Annie"), fought for their protection. Thanks to her campaign, letters to Congress, and documentaries, public opinion changed. In 1959, the first mustang protection law was passed, but it was weak. The real breakthrough came in 1971 when President Richard Nixon signed the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act. Main provisions of the law The law declared wild horses and burros "living symbols of the historical and pioneer spirit of the West." They received protection on lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the United States Forest Service. Important points: prohibition of capture, injury, and killing these animals without special permission; recognition of them as part of the natural environment, not "feral livestock"; and the obligation of the BLM to manage the population "at a level that will allow a healthy balance" with other species and land use. However, the law does not give animals the right to breed uncontrollably. The BLM can capture excess horses and transfer them to private hands (a ... Read more