2 horse deaths reported as Assateague national park prepares census

For one of the six times this year, Assateague Island National Seashore is conducting a comprehensive animal census of its famed horses.

While the official report has yet to be released, the Assateague Island Alliance announced in a social media post that the park confirmed the death of two mares, M17GMV "Little Paka" and N6BP "Lion's Mane."

According the group, Lion's Mane was a mare living to more than 30 years old, a milestone for a domestic horse, let alone a horse living wild on a barrier island.

"She is a perfect example of how adaptable the horses are to this harsh environment and a testament to the National Park Service's policy to manage the Maryland herd as wildlife. Much the same for Little Paka who would have been 25 this year," the post said.

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More on horse relocations: Orphaned Assateague foal relocated to Virginia herd

Through the census, horses are identified by their distinguishing characteristics, mapped and counted. Individual horses that are not observed during multiple census periods are presumed dead.

The purpose of the census is to monitor the overall population dynamics of the horse herd in support of the long-term fertility control program that was initiated in 1994.

"Going forward, the status of the Maryland herd will be announced following the completion of the park's population census according to the policies outlined in the wild horse management program," the post said.

The revised goal, announced in 2021, is to allow the population to increase toward 80 to 100 horses.

This article originally appeared on Salisbury Daily Times: Assateague National Seashore says 2 horses died, with census underway