Reintroducing predators into the wild.

[Ownedby4horses]

See this is a huge worry for me with tiny ponies and wolves nearby. We are advised to have low fencing (have to anyway) and tie streamers to the electric fence (but this only discourages for a short time apparently). I make sure mine are only out in daylight.

 

[Polos Mum]

See this is a huge worry for me with tiny ponies and wolves nearby. We are advised to have low fencing (have to anyway) and tie streamers to the electric fence (but this only discourages for a short time apparently). I make sure mine are only out in daylight.

I worked on a yard in south africa where the horses were turned out on the reserve with the lions, leopard (and crocs and hyena etc. etc) - given enough space they learned to keep away from each other (locked up safely dusk til dawn). They had the occasional clearly claw mark scratch on a bum and croc puncher wounds on one leg but v low level of injuries compared to normal UK turnout damage.

 

[Ownedby4horses]

I worked on a yard in south africa where the horses were turned out on the reserve with the lions, leopard (and crocs and hyena etc. etc) - given enough space they learned to keep away from each other (locked up safely dusk til dawn). They had the occasional clearly claw mark scratch on a bum and croc puncher wounds on one leg but v low level of injuries compared to normal UK turnout damage.

Thank you, this is reassuring they can be in relative close proximity with measures in place, ill be sticking to making sure everyone is in before nightfall and not our until sunrise ?, it must have been a fascinating time for you working there!

 

[Orangehorse]

Back to Anglo Saxon times then - keep domestic animals secure behind a fence or in a building at night!

 

[Jango]

I volunteered on with riding safari company in a game reserve in Botswana last year. The horses were kept outside at night but behind serious 10ft, 5 strand wire electric fencing! When on safari they were fenced in with just 2 strands of tape, but apparently the smell of humans plus fire keeps the cats away. There were leopards, cheetah and lions in the reserve, we saw them on horseback during the day and the neither the horses or the cats were bothered! When we were riding elephants were the most dangerous as they could charge. One lion stalked a safari once and the guide had to discharge their gun (near, not at the lion!) But that was seemed to be a one off from how everyone was reacting to it. From the experience I think Lynx would be fine for horses, but they would possibly take the odd sheep so that would need to be planned for. I wouldn't want to keep horses with wild wolves around, pack animals can get really brave if there's enough of them.