The newspaper Kefalonian Globe from its first steps covers the presence of the wild horses in the Elios-Prononon area. In fact, they are our most widely read articles. The Kefalonian Globe, after a thorough investigation, was the first to reveal that the Greek State had spent €75,000 on a study carried out by the University of Thessaloniki. Although the results of the study were delivered, no substantial action followed in practice.
It is the recent, dramatic events that prompt us to come back with a new article. The accident we all feared for years has happened: a young man in our area was seriously injured in a car accident with one of these horses. We want first of all, through this text, to wish him, as well as his family, a speedy recovery and strength.
Let us now recall some facts of history...
The horses appeared four years ago. They came down from the mountain for reasons that are not yet clear. Everyone has an opinion as to what caused their movement, however, to our knowledge, no scientific documentation has been provided to date.
It was said that these horses are a protected species. In fact, they are in danger of extinction. Therefore, we can neither confine nor kill them. Without natural predators and with unlimited access to food and water, they are multiplying rapidly. I have not conducted a scientific census, but I have seen foals being born all the time since they arrived. This particular breed, the Ainu pony, also seems to be disease resistant, thanks to its hardy nature.
Hunger, predators and epidemics are the only three factors that can control a population. It is therefore no coincidence that the number of ponies is increasing and that this animal finds our region an ideal environment.
Already we are finding corpses of the elderly or of animals that have been victims of accidents. They are born, live and die alongside us.
Initially we only saw them in Theramonas. Today, however, they have formed herds in other areas as well: in Chionata, Mavrata, Valeriano, Katelios and as far as Ratzakli. A clear sign that the new herds are moving towards Skala.
Their presence has also changed our habits. Many have taken care to protect gardens, crops and vegetable gardens. We all remember the incident of the horse that was found in a swimming pool in Katelios a few years ago... Then we all became more careful on the streets, especially in the places known as "stalls" where horses gather.
Having worked for more than fifteen years in the equine sector, I can assure you: you cannot move a hundred wild horses against their will without a budget of hundreds of thousands of euros, if not more. Nor is there any guarantee that they won't return a few weeks later. Horses are deeply attached to their territory, especially when they are wild.
Some, forgetting that God created us in nature, in the Garden of Eden, and not above it, continued the original sin and wanted to take legal action against the authorities, alleging dangers for the horses or hygiene problems... But if the welfare of the horses was at stake, they would not have reproduced at such a rate. And if there were serious hygiene issues, we would all be sick all the time - which is obviously not the case.
We don't even have the funds to renovate our schools. Do you really think we should spend what a villa with a pool costs for a business that will probably fail? Personally, I would rather have a brand new school in my village than the removal of the horses, especially if that decision is made by an Athenian bureaucrat.
The truth is that there is no solution, because in fact there is no problem. God, nature, call it what you will, brought these horses to us. Who are we to question this higher will?
No one will come to "banish" them. And even if that were to happen, the horses would return.
So we have to learn to live with them, as we have done so far. Accidents can be prevented by education, prevention and proper planning of our roads.
That is why our proposals are clear. They are a simple and cost-effective alternative to pointless litigation:
- Information in schools: through local associations or government officials, so that children can learn what these horses are, how they live and how to coexist with them, in the garden, in the village, on the street. Children are the best channel to get the message across to every family.
- Hotels and accommodation to let: to inform tourists about the dangers on the roads, but also to highlight the "Kefalonia experience", giving visitors the opportunity to look for the horses in the villages and share photos - providing advertising on the island and economic respite for local businesses.
- Illuminated signs on the main road, reminding drivers to be careful at all times.
- More expensive solution, but which could be funded by the state or private foundations: a mobile application with real-time information on the location of horses.
- Academic opportunity: to allow researchers and experts from all over the world to study these horses outside the tourist season, perhaps with a special visa.
- Other programmes can be modelled on the "smurfs" for caretta-caretta sea turtles.
- A local coordinator could take charge of answering questions and complaints about coexistence to avoid frustration and feelings of abandonment.
Such policies were successfully implemented in countries where wolves and bears were reintroduced in the 1990s, with positive coexistence results in the Alps and Pyrenees.
It is therefore obvious that we have many possibilities to organize our coexistence with the horses of Kefalonia. Instead of trying to change a reality that does not change, let us make sure that we manage it in the best way possible.
I am sure that the few funds needed will be found. For the Greek taxpayer, the cost will certainly be less than the "solutions" that have already been tried or planned. Just think that with the 75,000€ of the study, thirty illuminated signs could have been installed...
These are the really realistic solutions, practical solutions, workable, applicable, in the field. Solutions that will prevent road accidents and save unnecessary waste of human energy.
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