Wild horses losing the fight against fires


Wild horses inside an enclosure, before they are dewormed and have their manes cut during the ‘rapa das bestas’ or ‘shearing of the beasts’ in the village of Sabucedo, Galicia, Spain. — Reuters

THE wildfires that used to burn each summer in the woods above the Spanish village of Barro have diminished to almost none since Lucia Perez started grazing wild horses there.

“There used to be fires every year but since 2019 when we started coming here we’ve had one small fire in the first year and nothing since,” said Perez, 37, explaining how by clearing the undergrowth between the trees the horses help stop fires igniting and spreading.

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!

Next In Focus

From tragedy to togetherness with Airbnb
Unapologetic and unashamed: American empire strikes out
No love for K-pop stars
Living next door to tourists
Coming-of-Age Day in Japan: The country’s youth face new challenges
Face to face: Trust on trial
Hosting the tourism rush
What makes a youth leader?
Curtains down at Kabul cinema
Philippine purple treat under threat

Others Also Read