The Australian Brumby Research Unit
NEWSLETTERS
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The Australian Brumby Research Unit NEWSLETTERS |
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| February 2009 | ||||
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PREVIOUS ISSUES
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This desert fringe country is currently under 3 feet of water from floods draining from torrential wet season rains falling a 1000 km to the north, in the Gulf of Carpentaria. The water will eventually drain into Lake Eyre, as it does generally every 10 years or so.When the water subsides the desert landscape will be transformed into lush pasture. Our team has recently been out to film the country before
and during the flood becuase this country is reported to produce severe
laminitis in the feral horses which graze it. We will be back again to
this country soon, to capture the contrast of the rich vegetation and
dart and capture some lame horses as part of a documentary we are making
on this naturally occurring laminitis. |
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The chronic laminitic foot shown in the inset was taken from a feral horse in the country pictured above... As the foot shows, laminitis does occur in the "natural horse". The foot appears to respond to the environment in which the horse inhabits. The effect of the environment on the horse's foot is the focus of the next few months work and full information on our findings to be featured in our June Newsletter. |
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Capturing and taming feral horses for transport and release won't be easy, but by the time the March Newsletter is out, it will be done. We are monitoring the change in hoof type, hoof growth and wear rates and distance travelled in 2 consecutive 3 month periods in their new feral environment. This study will be repeated in July and we need another 3 sponsors for these GPS collars, so if you know of anyone interested please contact us now. Wish us luck and we will report on how it goes in the April Newsletter. Cheers, Brian, Chris and the team. |
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Brian Hampson |
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