Threats & Conservation
Protecting a free-roaming herd
Threats & Conservation
Kaapsehoop’s free-roaming horses face real and often preventable threats. Their protection depends not on enclosure or control, but on awareness, monitoring and coexistence — and on the support of the community that shares the mountain with them.
Did You Know?
Kaapsehoop’s wild horse population has declined from around 180 in 2020 to just 36 today—a consequence of poaching, road accidents, African horse sickness and veldfires. Volunteer rangers now patrol more than 13,000 hectares, working tirelessly to safeguard the remaining herd and give this iconic population the best possible chance to recover.
Traffic & Collisions
Vehicle impact is the most immediate, preventable risk. Herds cross roads and graze on verges — especially in mist and at dawn or dusk. Reduced speed and awareness save lives.
Wire, Fencing & Snares
Like all free-roaming animals, horses are vulnerable to discarded wire, fencing remnants, snares and illegal traps, which cause prolonged suffering. Monitoring and rapid reporting reduce the risk.
Habitat & Land-Use Change
Changes in land use, fencing, forestry operations and access routes can disrupt grazing, movement and the stability of the herd groups.
Poaching & Fire
Recent increases in poaching, along with wildfire and other incidents, have raised the urgency of sustained protection and rapid response.
How They Are Protected
Conservation here means coexistence, not control — no farming, breeding or enclosure. It relies on monitoring herd health, reducing preventable risks, rapid response to injury, and cooperation between landowners, forestry, conservation groups and the community.
The Wild Horse Fund
Protection is coordinated through the Kaapsehoop Conservancy’s Wild Horse Fund, which supports monitoring, emergency response and conservation. Discover Kaapsehoop does not collect donations directly.
Their future is in our hands. Their place is in the wild.
Help Protect Kaapsehoop’s Wild Horses
If you encounter an injured or distressed horse during your visit, please report it immediately to the Kaapsehoop Wild Horses conservation team.
Report an Injured Horse →You can also support ongoing conservation efforts through the official Kaapsehoop Wild Horses conservation team. Support Wild Horse Conservation →