The Evolution of Wild Horse Management: Bridging the Gap Between Animal Welfare and Ecosystem Sustainability

Julie Murphree is a wildlife conservation biologist with expertise in the ethical issues at the intersection of animal welfare, animal rights, conservation biology, and public policy, with a particular focus on wild horse management. As an Assistant Teaching Professor at Arizona State University, Murphree teaches courses in Wildlife Management, Ethical and Policy Issues in Biology, Wildlife and Domestic Animal Nutrition and Captive Animal Behavior Management. Her research investigates the human animal bond, cognitive ethology and how the values attributed to different species shape management strategies, with a focus on balancing ecosystem conservation goals and the welfare of individual animals.

In this talk, Murphree will delve into the philosophical, social, and scientific considerations involved in managing wild horse populations, with a particular focus on the increasing numbers of free-roaming horses in arid regions. Over the past several decades, wild horse management has become one of the most contentious issues in public land management here in North America. Wild horse populations grow at a rate of 15-20% per year and compete with cattle, deer, elk, and bighorn sheep for valuable forage and water resources, which threaten fragile riparian ecosystems through soil compaction and overgrazing. While most U.S. policies advocate for the removal of these "non-native" horses, horse advocates continue to push for more territory and rights.

Murphree will introduce the concept of compassionate conservation, a framework that prioritizes the welfare of individual animals while maintaining the health of ecosystems. She will examine how this approach can be applied to the management of wild horse populations, ensuring both ethical treatment and ecological sustainability. The talk will compare traditional conservation practices with rewilding methods and explore how wild horses can be managed in a way that balances animal welfare with broader ecological goals.