Μake us preferred on Google Around 120 semi-wild horses on Kefalonia’s Mount Ainos are in critical condition, with a severe lack of water forcing them to descend into inhabited areas, onto roads and into farmland in search of food and water.
The situation has increasingly led to clashes with some local residents whose properties have been damaged. In recent incidents, several horses have reportedly been shot and killed, prompting concern among animal welfare groups.
Stamo Ampatiellou, a representative of the animal welfare organization Adespota en Drasei (Strays in Action), told private broadcaster MEGA that action was urgently needed to manage the horse population. She stressed that the group’s concerns extended beyond the animals themselves to the safety of residents, property owners and motorists, as the horses were increasingly found on roads.
Based on a scientific study by the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, the organization has proposed a series of measures to local authorities, including controlled population management and sterilization, as well as the creation of a dedicated park where the horses could be safely accommodated.
Ampatiellou said the organization was prepared to provide the necessary coordination and work on a voluntary basis. It had already identified potential areas where stallions could be contained, she explained, but lacked the technical expertise required to implement a comprehensive management program.
Meanwhile, criminal case files have already been opened in connection with the shootings of horses reported on the island.
