Dear Editor,
I refer to a letter published by Stabroek News on March 26, 2013 under the caption: “Emaciated ponies at the National Park.” The Protected Areas Commission, as well as the National Parks Commission, share the writer’s concerns for the wellbeing of our ponies.
Although our thirteen ponies are released to graze every day, we supplement their feed with paddy, a mineral lick and formulated feed for equines. Unfortunately, we have a few ponies that have fallen ill, and a few who are advanced in age, which are currently receiving medical care. I believe that these are the ponies that were observed.
Overseeing this care, is a Veterinarian from the Guyana Livestock Development Authority, with significant experience in equines, and who is providing the technical support going forward. The Veterinarian was seconded to the NPC late in 2012, through the assistance of the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment. It will take the two Commissions a while to completely address the ill health of these few ill ponies, but we have already begun to do whatever we can to ensure the animals are cared for. We are also in the process of remedying a number of years of inbreeding, which is affecting the immune response of the pony herd. We are designing a structured breeding programme, and seeking to procure a stallion to introduce new genetic stock into the herd.
I would like to commend Ms. Isaacs for helping us to keep an eye on our animals, as we have also had a few instances of persons trying to injure the animals. Our security team has been put on guard, but because we release the ponies to graze on a daily basis, we welcome the assistance of all public spirited persons to help us watch over these animals. Let me also state that we welcome all constructive suggestions and observations from the public, and please feel free to contact us with any additional suggestions. We will do our best with the resources available to ensure we provide a safe and improved facility for both our animals and the public at large.
Yours faithfully,
Damian Fernandes
Commissioner
