It is currently “legal” to hunt wild horses in the Cordillera de Darwin in Chilean Patagonia. These horses have been wild and free for over 100 years and are now under threat of extermination by local hunters.
Wild horses in Patagonia
Not only does this trade appear suspicious, but it did nothing to prevent the killing of the horses and directly contradicts Chile’s attempts to create an image of environmental preservation.
© 2014 by Annalisa Parisi
The land where these horses live, near Tierra del Fuego in the southernmost part of Chile, is now in the hands of the Chilean government which can stop the senseless killing of these beautiful creatures.
In January of this year, the land where these horses live was traded (under the ruse of a donation) by Douglas Thompkins for a piece of land almost four times the size. Thompkins now owns a piece of a prized national park and in return the Chilean government has a substantially smaller piece of land with hunters intent on their assumed right to hunt wild horses.
Eight months before the trade took place, Thompkins had a contract drawn up and enacted which allows the hunting and extermination of wild horses on the land he previously owned. At the time of the trade, the Chilean government accepted these terms and decided to trade 111,000 hectares of a national park for 35,000 hectares of old farmland with a contract allowing the murder of wild horses.
Not only does this trade appear suspicious, but it did nothing to prevent the killing of the horses and directly contradicts Chile’s attempts to create an image of environmental preservation.
While the trade of land and acceptance of the contract took place without much publicity, it is now popular knowledge that Chile owns this land with a standing contract allowing the slaughter of ferrel horses. It is time to tell the government of Chile that this practice is unacceptable so as to prevent the death of these magnificent creatures.
PETITION LETTER
Dear President Bachelet,
The hunting of wild horses in Patagonia, currently protected under contract, is an appalling practice that must be stopped. These horses have roamed free in the Cordillera de Darwin for over 100 years and should be protected from senseless murder. Chile has an image of being environmentally responsible and caring about its wild landscapes. By allowing this seemingly contrived contract to remain active, Chile is tainting its image as a place that preserves and deeply cares about its wild lands.
It is within your power to rescind the current contract, agreed to during the trade between Chile’s previous president and Thompkins. The trade seems to have greatly favored Thompkins while simultaneously upholding a devious contract allowing the slaughter of wild horses. Under what authority does Thompkins have the right to allow the murder of wild animals? You have the power to annul Thompkins’ contract. Don’t miss this opportunity to correct this problem, save the lives of wild horses, and promote an environmentally conscious image of Chile.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]