Cumberland Island horses to remain wild

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) — A federal judge ruled against the wild horses located on Cumberland Island in a lawsuit on Tuesday.

Between 125 to 175 wild horses roam Cumberland Island, drawing visitors from around the world to witness their beauty up close. Equine advocacy groups have been calling for the horses to be either removed from the island or provided with food and veterinary care, arguing it would ensure a longer, healthier life for them.

"While this case must be dismissed, the court hopes that the important issues plaintiffs have raised here might spur the (National Park Service) or other agencies to act," the judge wrote in an order, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.

Those familiar with the island and its ecosystem said they believe that the horses should remain undisturbed, comparing them to other wild species such as deer.

"I think the best thing to do is leave them alone. Let them take care of themselves over there," one resident said.

Unlike domesticated horses kept as pets, the horses on the are wild and adapted to the environment. These animals have been part of the island since 1742, when Spanish soldiers released them during a battle with the English, forming a now-feral population.

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Nature photographer and former island resident Brenda Barber said that human intervention would make the animals dependent and disrupt their natural way of life.

"They are a part of nature over there," said Barber. "Now they're a part of the island and the land."

Equine advocacy groups involved in the lawsuit said that the horses face shorter lifespans, food shortages and illness on the national seashore. Others pointed out that animals often live longer in captivity, and relocating the horses would do more harm than good.

"It would be traumatizing for the horses to pull them off," Barber added. "That's the way they've grown up—generation after generation has lived over there, and it's their natural way of life."