The wild horses: the political conversation around them, the promises and the final plan of management  

The wild horses of Mount Ainos constitute a particularly rare species of horses, which are found in few locations in Greece. Their charm captivates the gaze of locals and visitors alike, while they serve as a characteristic example of natural wonders on the island of Kefalonia. Their history dates back many years, and they now unquestionably form an integral cultural and ecological part of Kefalonia. These large animals live freely on Mount Ainos, often roaming in the surrounding villages, a fact that has been a key factor in the controversial political discussion that has arisen around the issue.

 A few words about the horses and the problems:

The wild horses of Mount Ainos belong to the species Equus Caballus, which resembles domesticated horses, with their main colors being brown, black, white, and gray. They have been domesticated by humans and mainly inhabit relatively high altitudes with gentle slopes, near water. Their lifespan is 25-30 years. Besides Kefalonia, this species is also found in certain other locations such as Mount Pindos, from where they originate, Thessalia, and Naupaktia. In Kefalonia, these horses were abandoned after World War II on Mount Ainos, where they continue to live today. In recent years, it has been observed that many groups of horses have been relocated and now live in villages below the mountain, mainly in Mavrata, Thiramona, Valerianos, and Ano Katelios. The safety of the horses in these areas is indisputable, but there are not a few problems created for the residents of the villages due to the horses' free grazing in these specific areas.

For this reason, there is an intense political debate about the issue of wild horses because despite their stunning beauty, their free grazing in the surrounding villages of Mount Ainos causes problems for the residents. Before the local elections, promises were made to solve these problems, but so far, this has not been done. The animals, unintentionally, sometimes cause damage to the yards of houses or the fields of residents. Moreover, the safety of the animals themselves is at risk, as they roam on roads where cars travel, and during the winter months, finding food is a difficult process. Therefore, multiple responses and actions have been required from the authorities. The Management Body of Mount Ainos National Park is responsible for managing the wild horses of Mount Ainos, and it has now been integrated with the Organization for the Management of the Environment and Climate Change (O.FY.PE.K.A) as well as the region is responsible for the issue.

We conducted an in-depth study on the subject and conducted interviews with all parties involved to offer a comprehensive view of the situation. We communicated with authorities, politicians, village residents, and horse experts. Some did not respond to our communication attempts, but there were also those who agreed to share a few words from their own perspective.  

The information we refer to is based on research conducted in collaboration with the Organization for the Management of the Environment and Climate Change (O.FY.PE.K.A) and the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki regarding the "Monitoring of the population and management proposals of wild horses (Equus caballus) in the Ainos National Park and areas of Naupaktia," where O.FY.PE.K.A. provided us with the results of the first phase of the research for the specific purpose of use in our article. This study is being implemented following repeated contacts of the Member of Parliament Mr. Kostas Karagounis with the then Deputy Minister of Environment and Energy Mr. George Amyras, in the first months of 2023, with the aim of solving the problems identified in areas where horses move, in Kefalonia and Naupaktia. The results of the second phase will be available by the end of April, when we will be able to have more official information about the process that will take place in practice, as confirmed by Professor Mr. Balakoudis, who participates in the research of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, in communication we had. Finally, this study is being conducted with a budget of €74,400, which constitutes an expense of O.FY.PE.K.A..

Results of the first phase of the study and awaiting the final plan:

The first phase of the study on the "Monitoring of the population and management proposals for wild horses (Equus caballus) in Mount Ainos National Park and areas of Naupaktia" reports that a total of 31 horses were identified, divided into five herds, two in the area of Ainos and three in the Thiramona-Valeriano area, with an average of six horses per herd. Additionally, the average fertility rate was estimated at 0.429 female offspring/reproductive females, and the average number of adult females per herd was calculated at 2.8, ranging from 1-4 horses per herd. The majority (90.3%) of horses in Kefalonia were evaluated to be in moderate to good physical condition according to the collected data. The density of horses was similar in all seasons (0.03 horses/ha in Ainos and 0.05 horses/ha in Thiramona).

The study mentions the activity range of the horses per region, where it is interesting to note a reduction in the area where the horses are active during the summer period. Furthermore, the findings showed that the space where the animals move is often shared among herds, and many times they intermingle in the areas they visit for food and water in Mount Ainos National Park and the Elion-Pronnon area. In the second phase of the study, the data on the horses' feeding habits and the questionnaires filled out by residents regarding their management will be analyzed. We await the final results for a comprehensive view of the findings. 

In our communication with the president of the Mavrata community, Ioannis Hounos, we were informed that there is an ongoing process regarding the management of horses in the villages where the horses roam freely, but nothing is official at the moment. The president mentioned that last year Aristotle University of Thessaloniki addressed the residents with questionnaires to offer their perspective on the issue and propose solutions, thus laying a foundation for addressing the problems. Village presidents, as well as residents, are awaiting the presentation of the results of this research and some official information regarding the process for managing the animals in practice. Mr. Hounos also highlighted the daily problems faced by residents due to the horses' free grazing in their yards and village streets.

Therefore, the results of the study conducted by Aristotle University will form the basis for solving the problems and protecting the horses. Thus, we will have a clearer picture of the solutions to be implemented and the final plan that will be formulated, as highlighted by the Geopark in our conversation. Political authorities appear reassuring about the issue, giving hope that a satisfactory solution will soon be found for the residents and, of course, for the horses in need of protection. It is therefore important to manage to protect this beautiful rare species inhabiting our island and to be able to coexist harmoniously.