It does not matter whether extinction is caused by a bullet,apathy, or antipathy--gone is gone. And gone is forever. The life of the little colt shown above foretells the death of the wild herd at Corolla unless legislation to allow a few Shackleford mares to join the Corolla herd, which is currently pending in Congress, passes.
This two day old colt was found without a mare in sight. No one knows why he became separated from his mother. Without the immediate intervention of the members and staff of the Corolla Wild Horse Fund he would be dead at this moment. As it is, he has a chance at survival.
Genetic collapse is not looming on the future for the wild horses of Corolla. It is happening now. The birth rate for mature mares in the wild herd is abysmal. Often older mares that have no foal steal newborns from their mothers immediately after birth. These mares, of course, have no supply of milk and their stolen prizes die in a few days.
Of course, the overall numbers of the Corolla herd must increase to over 120 to provide a degree of genetic viability, but it is equally important that Shacklefords be introduced to provide immediate genetic diversity.
The Shacklefords have been isolated from the Corollas for a few hundred years. The Shacklefords are equally pure in their Spanish heritage. Their importation will not destroy the Spanish genetics of these historic horses, it will enhance those genetics and allow them to survive.
In a few weeks I will have two Shackleford/Corolla foals born from the offsite breeding program. In two years I hope to read of several Corolla/Shackleford foals being born in the wild---where they belong.
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