The renowned biologist Wayne McCrory discusses his new book The Wild Horses of the Chilcotin: Their History and Future (Harbour Publishing, 2023), with Joseph Planta.

The Wild Horses of the Chilcotin: Their History and Future by Wayne McCrory (Harbour Publishing, 2023). Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: The Wild Horses of the Chilcotin

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver, British Columbia, at TheCommentary.ca.

Wayne McCrory joins me now. He’s just published a new book, The Wild Horses of the Chilcotin: Their History and Future. It’s also a beautifully illustrated book, one that looks at the controversial horses in British Columbia’s Chilcotin. They’re also viewed as romantic and beautiful but to a lot of ranchers in the province, they’re seen as intruders. And Wayne does a fine job in the book chronicling how governments have viewed them, subjecting the wild horses to culls, as they’re seen as invasive species and harmful to domestic cattle, even though they’ve been part of this part of the world for hundreds of years. Mr. McCrory also presents his over twenty years of research looking at the genetics of these wild horses, evolving to the point where they should be considered domestic. Wayne also looks at the work by the Tsilhqot’in Nation, as well as Friends of Nemaiah Valley, and the Valhalla Wilderness Society. Wayne McCrory is a registered professional biologist specialising in the study of wild horses, bears, and western toads. He has published more than ninety scientific reports on wildlife and conservation. This new book is from Harbour Publishing. He lives in Hills, in British Columbia’s Slocan Valley, where he joined me from a couple of weeks ago. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Wayne McCrory; Mr. McCrory, good morning.

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