The Arizona Department of Agriculture announced last week that the request for a new management contract had been canceled because of unauthorized conversations involving potential bidders according to a story by KJZZ News of Phoenix.
An email inquiry sent by Western Horse Watchers on Friday was not immediately answered.
Simone Netherlands, ringleader of the Salt River Wild Horse Darting Group, said the population control measures sought by the state threaten the viability of the herd, which may be true but the point is moot because her group has already done that with PZP, an ovary-killing pesticide.
The wild horse population has decreased about 9% per year under her leadership, 50% higher than normal!
“It’s like they don’t understand how amazing that is, that the population has been going down.”
If her group loses the contract, and hopefully they will, that statement could earn her a well-paying job with one of the legacy contractors or ranching advocacy groups.
RELATED: State Not Happy with Salt River Sterilization Program?
UPDATE: Refer to AZDA news release dated May 21.
Western Horse Watchers Association 