- Title: Bosnia's wild horses: A boost for tourism, or trouble for farmers?
- Date: 17th September 2021
- Summary: LIVNO, BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA (SEPTEMBER 13, 2021) (REUTERS) (MUTE) VARIOUS OF DRONE FOOTAGE OF WILD HORSES RUNNING ON MOUNTAIN VARIOUS OF HORSES RUNNING HORSES WALKING PHOTOGRAPHER AND OWNER OF TRAVEL AGENCY, MARIN MAMUZA, WALKING TO TAKE PHOTOS OF HORSES VARIOUS OF MAMUZA TAKING PHOTOS MAMUZA AND HORSE (SOUNDBITE) (Bosnian) PHOTOGRAPHER AND OWNER OF TRAVEL AGENCY, MARIN MAMUZA, SAYING: "Currently, about 1,000 horses live on the plateau. They are domestic horses released into the wild when people started to use machinery. When they were no longer needed, the owners did not take them to work in the field, they simply left them in the wilderness, and they became independent. They became wild and independent after previously being domestic horses. The breeds mostly represented here are the Bosnian mountain horse, Posavac, and Arabian horse." VARIOUS OF HORSE EATING GRASS HORSES STANDING TOGETHER (SOUNDBITE) (Bosnian) PHOTOGRAPHER AND OWNER OF TRAVEL AGENCY, MARIN MAMUZA, SAYING: "We've seen great interest in our destination from foreign tourists, and last year during the COVID-19 crisis, it turned out that our domestic tourists are also very interested in visiting Livno and the wild horses." HORSES WALKING VARIOUS OF HORSES EATING GRASS VARIOUS OF FIELD WITH DRAINED WATER WELLS VARIOUS OF CATTLE FARMER, BENJAMIN VARUPA, USING GENERATOR TO DRAW WATER COWS DRINKING WATER FROM BATHTUB (SOUNDBITE) (Bosnian) CATTLE FARMER, BENJAMIN VARUPA, SAYING: "They (wild horses) drink the water and then we have problems. If it rains, it's good. If it doesn't rain, dear God, there is nothing we can do." (SOUNDBITE) (Bosnian) CATTLE FARMER, BENJAMIN VARUPA, SAYING: "What is the solution? The horses may disappear and so may we, the farmers." VARIOUS OF VARUPA'S COWS (SOUNDBITE) (Bosnian) CATTLE FARMER, BENJAMIN VARUPA, SAYING: "You know what, the horses kick the cows. There were a couple of them that we had to sell. One cow lost weight because a horse had hurt it." VARIOUS OF VIEW OF LIVNO TOWN EXTERIOR OF MUNICIPALITY BUILDING (SOUNDBITE) (Bosnian) MAYOR OF LIVNO, DARKO CONDRIC, SAYING: "They (horses) have potential and on the other hand they are a problem for farmers who keep cattle and sheep on Cincar mountain. Then there are pools where a large number of horses drink the water, and during summer months the cattle are left without water. And also horses are left without water. This is where we see a problem and where we can first act and solve this issue." (MUTE) DRONE FOOTAGE OF LIVNO TOWN HORSES EATING GRASS WHITE HORSE STANDING (SOUNDBITE) (Bosnian) PHOTOGRAPHER AND OWNER OF TRAVEL AGENCY, MARIN MAMUZA, SAYING: "This will surely become one of the biggest tourist attractions in our country. It is necessary that at a state level, God willing, this will become a national park. It is necessary to protect this area in the long term and to enjoy its beauty for the long run. Not only for us but the whole world." VARIOUS OF HORSES HORSE NEIGHING (MUTE) DRONE FOOTAGE OF WILD HORSES RUNNING
- Embargoed: 1st October 2021 12:45
- Keywords: Bosnia-Herzegovina agriculture cattle environment farming horses horses in Livno tourism tourism in Bosnia wild horses
- Location: LIVNO, BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA
- City: LIVNO, BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA
- Country: Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Topics: Environment,Europe,Nature/Wildlife
- Reuters ID: LVA001EV3YU6X
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Wild horses galloping across rugged mountains in western Bosnia are drawing tourists, but also anger farmers who see them as pests.
The number of horses roaming the Kruzi plateau, at the foot of the Cincar mountain, has increased over the past 30 years and enterprising enthusiasts have begun organising photo-safari tours and are calling for the animals to be protected.
About a thousand horses live on the plateau, many of them released into the wild by their owners as machines replaced them in the fields, said photographer Marin Mamuza.
Mamuza, who in 2019 began offering adventure tours in the area, said the coronavirus pandemic boosted the number of Bosnian tourists coming to the nearby town of Livno to see the horses.
The entrepreneur sees great potential in the horses and is lobbying local authorities for their protection, but farmers say the horses hurt their cattle, destroy crops and compete with cows over water resources.
Cattle breeder Benjamin Varupa said he had to sell a few cows after horses had hurt them. But he doubts a solution can be found to reconcile the conflicting interests of farmers and horses.
Livno previously approved a decision to protect the horses in 2009, but withdrew it in 2017 due to claims for damages by farmers as well as drivers, after horses were involved in road accidents.
But the city authorities are once again considering protecting the animals. Livno Mayor Darko Condric told Reuters his administration wants to solve the problems between activists and farmers, as he too sees potential for tourism and economy.
Mamuza said he would like to see the whole area protected and one day declared as a national park.
(Production: Dado Ruvic, Karolina Bohacova) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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