Do not feed konik horses!

29 konik horses were slaughtered. People who visit the Oostvaardersveld have massively ignored urgent advice so as not to approach, stroke or feed the konik horses living there. According to Staatsbosbeheer, the horses were too intrusive towards visitors, and that can result in dangerous situations.

According to ranger Hans-Erik Kuypers, the konik horses have become intrusive because the animals have been approached, petted and fed frequently by people over the past year. The result is that the animals sometimes come to recreators as a group, which comes across as threatening and can be dangerous. According to the State Forest Management, no other suitable areas were available, so they could not be relocated and the slaughterhouse was the only option.

The konik horse (Equus caballus caballus). The konik horse is originally from Poland. There it was bred as a replacement for its extinct ancestor, the tarpan. Konik horses are used as wild grazers in nature reserves. Since the horses live in group, they keep vegetation short in large areas without problems. In addition, they are stronger than domesticated horses and can also handle severe winters.

What exactly is going on in the Oostvaardersplassen?
Will it be a harsh winter like in 2010. Since heck cattle (1983), konik horses (1984) and red deer (1992) were introduced in the Oostvaardersplassen, the animals have been struggling with a harsh winter every few years. During such a winter period, there is even less food available than is normally the case in winter and as a result, hundreds to thousands of animals die. The last winter that was harsh on the animals was the winter of 2010.