NGOs Pledge Reward Match for Justice in Utah Wild Horse Slayings
Tooele, Utah (March 23, 2023) – Today, the American Wild Horse Conservation (formerly American Wild Horse Campaign) (AWHC) announced that it has pledged $5,000 to a Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) reward fund in hopes of bringing justice to the case of the brutal killing of wild horses from the popular Onaqui Herd Management Area (HMA) discovered this week.
“AWHC is pleased to join with the BLM in offering a reward to bring justice for the violent and senseless killing of two iconic stallions who were members of the beloved Onaqui wild horse herd,” said Suzanne Roy, Executive Director of the American Wild Horse Conservation. “Shooting these protected animals is a serious federal crime and we stand ready to assist the BLM in any way possible to hold the perpetrators accountable under the full force of the law.”
The National Mustang Association, Red Birds Trust, and the Onaqui Catalogue Foundation (OCF) also pledged funds, bringing the current total to $22,500.
"Onaqui Catalogue Foundation is heartbroken to hear of the deaths of two well-known Onaqui stallions,” said Samantha Couper, OCF Board Chair. “We thank the community for rallying together to support efforts to bring justice for these illegal and unnecessary killings."
The reward seeks information leading to the arrest and conviction of the individual(s) responsible for killing two federally-protected wild horses who were fatally gunned down near Simpson Springs Mountain Road, approximately 60 miles southwest of Salt Lake City. The horses – a blue-eyed Pinto stallion known to locals as Jasper and another known Bay stallion – were discovered on March 19, and were located within 10 feet of each other.
Anyone with information about the incident can call the BLM Utah Law Enforcement Tipline at 800-722-3998. Callers can provide information anonymously.
Additional photos of the wild horses who were killed are available upon request.
About the American Wild Horse Conservation
The American Wild Horse Conservation (formerly American Wild Horse Campaign) (AWHC) is the nation's leading wild horse protection organization, with more than 700,000 supporters and followers nationwide. AWHC is dedicated to preserving the American wild horse and burros in viable, free-roaming herds for generations to come, as part of our national heritage.
###