Concern at removal of animals in Mournes

Concern at removal of animals in Mournes

11 August 2021

A CALL has been issued for an agreed solution to control the number of wild ponies living on the Mournes.

It comes after a Lisburn-based equine rescue group started to remove a number of the animals from the mountains after the organisation was contacted by the National Trust and Forest Service after over 900 acres of land was destroyed in a malicious fire at the end of April.

The rescue group has been removing ponies from land under the control of both organisations and while its work has been welcomed in some quarters, some farmers have expressed concern at what has been happening.

Mournes councillor Glyn Hanna — who is concerned that all the wild ponies living on the Mournes could be removed — said the key question that has to be addressed is do people want the animals to remain there or not, welcoming plans for all the key players with an input into the issue to meet to discuss an agreed way forward.

He said while farmers and many local people agreed that the ponies need to be properly managed and their welfare looked after, the animals are wild and do not belong to anyone.

Cllr Hanna, who said farmers are worried about the removal of the ponies, explained that the animals have been living wild in the area for generations and are located on the  eastern side of the mountains in an area stretching from Annalong to Glassdrumman and to the Bloody Bridge area outside Newcastle.

“The wild ponies are being removed from the Mournes and I am really concerned that we will end up with none,” he declared.

“These animals have been living happily on the mountains for generations and, quite possibly, been there for hundreds of years. They add character to the mountains which would be devoid of larger wild animals if they were taken by whoever. 

“It is estimated that there are somewhere between 50 and 150 ponies on the mountains which I believe should be retained for future generations. The animals also play a massive part in the eco-system of the Mournes, eating rough and longer course vegetation that sheep or cattle would never eat.”

Cllr Hanna said the ponies also eat the bark of young whin bushes which prevents them from expanding which helps reduce the fire risk.

In addition, the Mournes councillor argues that the ponies need to remain to prevent the mountains from becoming overgrown with wild heather which impacts on the biodiversity of plants, insects, birds, and other wild animals. 

“The ponies need to stay in my view,” he continued. “I have been in contact with farmers and people living along the eastern side of the Mournes concerned that the ponies will be soon be gone. They too want the animals to stay and farmers and local people agree that these wild ponies need to be managed by someone and their welfare looked after.”

Cllr Hanna said he has contacted the group which has removed some of the ponies off the mountains and was informed that it was asked to help after concern was expressed about the welfare of the animals following the April fire on land owned by the National Trust and Forest Service.

He said he accepted that some of the animals needed treatment and, suggesting that if foxes, badgers, birds or any other wild animals needed treatment, they would be returned to their natural environment.

Cllr Hanna said an issue he has been made aware of is that some ponies have reportedly been removed from land controlled by the Mid Mourne Mountain Trustees without permission.

He also confirmed that during conversations with farmers, residents and a representative from the equine group, it was confirmed that there was an issue with some of the ponies, suggesting that some have been abandoned by their owners and suffer from several health issues.

“A vet in Kilkeel is willing to assess if the ponies are wild or not,” Cllr Hanna continued. “If they are wild and need treatment they should be returned to the mountains afterwards and farmers would agree to this.

He also revealed that following a recent incident when police had to be called when an attempt was being made to remove ponies, it was agreed that all interested parties should meet to discuss a way forward.

He added: “Like everyone else, I want no animal to suffer so a solution to control pony numbers and manage them needs to be found and hope everyone works together to sort this problem out and keep the wild ponies on the mountain.”