The Platero Project: Spotlight on the American Wild Burro

Wild burros, protected under the Wild Free-Roaming Horses & Burros Act, often receive less attention than America'smustangs. The Platero Project aims to change this by highlighting the importance of these resilient animals and advocating for their protection.

Wild burrosare primarily found in five western states, with a significant population in Arizona. These animals, descended from pack animals of the 19th century, have adapted to the harsh conditions of the American West, thriving particularly in Arizona's high deserts.

Despite being legally protected like the American mustang,wild burrosdo not capture the public's imagination as vividly. The American Wild Horse Conservation (formerly American Wild Horse Preservation) has initiated the Platero Project to address the critical situation facingwild burros, which is as severe as that of themustangs.

Burros andmustangslive on designated Herd Management Areas (HMAs) managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the US Forest Service. The BLM sets an Appropriate Management Level (AML) for each HMA, and when populations exceed these levels,roundupsmay occur. Theseroundupsare particularly harsh on burros, whose nature does not suit the methods used.

As habitats shrink, the genetic diversity of burros is threatened, with populations becoming fragmented and inbred. The National Academy of Science warned in 2013 that removing burros could jeopardize their genetic health. Only about 11,000 burros remain in the wild.

The Platero Project seeks to raise awareness ofwild burrosand their unique qualities. It aims to work with government agencies to increase AMLs for burros and use fertility control vaccines. Additionally, the project explores ways to restore water sources and protect grazing areas.

To learn more about the Platero Project, visitthe project’s web pagewithin the American Wild Horse Conservation site. Special thanks to Grace Kuhn for providing photographs and information about the Platero Project.

Go burros!

Originally posted by Horse Nation