Washington: Authorities in the US have ordered wildlife experts to kill wild cows in the Gila Wilderness of southwestern New Mexico in an effort to eradicate them. According to a Fox News report, about 150 such cows have been marked in the area, which has attacked tourists and damaged sensitive areas of the country’s first declared wilderness area. Around 150 stray cows will be targeted in a four-day campaign starting Thursday, which environmentalists say will destroy the ecosystem of endangered species amid the Gila’s rising mountains and precipitous valleys, the news agency reported. The officials said that the operation was necessary and it was difficult to take a decision.
At the same time, The New York Post quoted Forest Supervisor Camille Howes as saying that wild cattle in the Gila forest have been aggressive towards tourists visiting the forest. These cattle graze year-round, and trample stream banks and streams, causing erosion problems. However, the move by authorities could face a legal challenge from ranchers who have said air-killing cattle is a cruel and inefficient way of managing the population. Lorraine Patterson, president of The New Mexico Cattle Growers Association (NMCGA), said officials are not looking for solutions that are long-term, and that should not be considered cruel.
The NMCGA had previously sued the Forest Service, and Patterson threatened further legal action to block the decision. Last year’s legal challenge ended in an out-of-court settlement, with Patterson saying both sides were asked to explore other options. The Forest Service’s decision has pleased environmentalists, who want all cows removed from the Gila and other public lands.
