In light of the current landscape with wild horses, public lands, stakeholders, and the new administration, I was asked to comment regarding our work in Idaho, so I am sharing this message. Many of you are already familiar with this material.
Established in 2010 as a non-profit, Wild Love Preserve is a legacy project that reflects upon America's heritage. Wild Love's mission is to 1) nurture a legacy of lasting wildness for our iconic wild horses on their native turf and in conjunction with indigenous wildlife and respective habitats as an interconnected whole; 2) implement humane, fiscally responsible, and sustainable population management practices on the range; 3) address fluid coexistence with livestock where applicable; 4) ensure healthy, genetically viable herds and sustainable indigenous ecosystems for future generations to equally experience, nurture, and treasure.
When I created Wild Love Preserve eleven years ago, the cornerstone of this mission was my belief that we could find new solutions by bringing stakeholders together in a new light and finding common ground. Some thought it was a far-fetched idea. Others felt I was a traitor for working with all sides. One told me to stop trying to re-invent the wheel and follow the lead of her circle of advocates. I continued on my path. Along the way we've experienced intentional blocks, attempts to silence us, ignore us, or shut us down, all the while sourcing our work in Idaho.
By 2013 Wild Love's inclusive approach to addressing the wild horse controversy was viewed as a paradigm shift by stakeholders from all sides. Still, I was of concern and threat to others who in turn acted out. I took a lot of heat in the first five or six years, especially leading up to the 2012 Challis roundup, but that made no difference because I was following my truth. I was boots-on-the-ground, knocking on doors, meeting with stakeholders face-to-face, bridging divides, and building working relationships by walking my talk. Experiencing resistance and attempts to undermine or derail Wild Love's efforts were not surprising, albeit unfortunate and rather disappointing considering the sources. The actions of others were reflections of themselves and had nothing to do with my path and Wild Love's mission in attaining lasting wildness.
Time and again, I’ve been accused of being altruistic, and frankly, I'm proud of that. I've dealt with my share of self-serving characters and blow-hards, and have taken countless hits on behalf of truth and working to help others. It comes with the territory. I’ve upset apple-carts with my honesty and my concern for our collective well-being. All said, Wild Love has always remained steeled in our origins, as I am hell-bent on integrity, truth, action, and follow-through. Together we have turned a page in the history books. We have led by example and have had a substantial positive influence via our methods of conflict resolution and our conservation platform. I’ve said it time and again, we are saving wild lives by working together.
In recent years, a few who now stand on the side of working with all stakeholders state they've brought opposing sides together for the first time, claiming their efforts a paradigm shift. They choose not to recognize the grassroots work that has come long before and for which they are well aware. Never is there mention of their stance in years prior, nor do they publicly acknowledge our collaborative work in Idaho and joint successes with stakeholders for over a decade because that doesn't fit with their agendas. They have unfortunately created greater divides in wild horse advocacy with their approach. I continue to receive calls and questions from many who are quite put-off by this, and I continue to answer, "It's no surprise." That's the nature of humans and corporate entities - to take what they want and protect their interests.
For Wild Love Preserve, wild horses have led the way in protecting the whole and have offered a unique opportunity to implement change by walking new paths together. By way of knocking on doors, face-to-face communications, and boots-on-the-ground action, Wild Love has blazed a trail in teamwork, creating a wild horse conservation model in coexistence that has gone on to help and inspire others. Our inclusive approach to addressing all facets of wild horse population on their home turf, while nurturing the health and sustainability of respective indigenous habitats as an interconnected and balanced whole, has offered a viable and beneficial alternative to the government system of roundups and removals. Subsequently, Idaho has set a new precedence in taking care of our own at home by working together. We have demonstrated that Wild Love's model benefits wild horses, stakeholders, the region, and the state in a multi-layered manner. We have brought new sources of revenue to the community and have saved taxpayers well over $8.5 million since 2013 with our programs on and off the range. That was the goal from the onset, to turn the Challis-Idaho wild horses into an asset and create a wild horse conservation model in Idaho that we could share in hopes of also helping other wild horse regions in the West.
Conflict resolution and human relations have been essential facets of this project. Folks were understandably suspicious of me in the beginning, "that wild horse girl." I am incredibly appreciative of all those who have given me and Wild Love a chance - those who have helped us, worked with us, supported us, and joined us on this wild adventure. I have listened and learned, and perhaps some feel the same in return. The organic evolution of this project is rooted in the willingness of the Bureau of Land Management, ranchers, cowboys, environmentalists, scientists, wildlife biologists, youth groups, and advocates to engage in conversations and negotiations with myself on behalf of Wild Love. Without the help of stakeholders from all sides in Challis and the region, and supporters from around the country and beyond, Wild Love Preserve would not be what it is has become, and for that, I am forever appreciative. To those who have been instrumental to this project, thank you for working with me, for trusting in me, for your kindness, your patience, understanding, and willingness to try something new all those years ago and to this very day. Wild Love is a WE project that is about us all and a reflection of our humanity. It does take a village to implement positive change and do big things. It also requires extreme tenacity and sleepless nights.
Our greatest challenge, which has also slowed our efforts over the years, has not been with stakeholders - it has been raising the necessary project funding for our education and conservation programs and land acquisition. It has been a longtime frustration that has required great sacrifice, but no matter the steep climb, we have remained true to our mission on behalf of our iconic wild horses and wild places because this matters - now and for future generations.
Established in 2010 as a non-profit, Wild Love Preserve is a legacy project that reflects upon America's heritage. Wild Love's mission is to 1) nurture a legacy of lasting wildness for our iconic wild horses on their native turf and in conjunction with indigenous wildlife and respective habitats as an interconnected whole; 2) implement humane, fiscally responsible, and sustainable population management practices on the range; 3) address fluid coexistence with livestock where applicable; 4) ensure healthy, genetically viable herds and sustainable indigenous ecosystems for future generations to equally experience, nurture, and treasure.
When I created Wild Love Preserve eleven years ago, the cornerstone of this mission was my belief that we could find new solutions by bringing stakeholders together in a new light and finding common ground. Some thought it was a far-fetched idea. Others felt I was a traitor for working with all sides. One told me to stop trying to re-invent the wheel and follow the lead of her circle of advocates. I continued on my path. Along the way we've experienced intentional blocks, attempts to silence us, ignore us, or shut us down, all the while sourcing our work in Idaho.
By 2013 Wild Love's inclusive approach to addressing the wild horse controversy was viewed as a paradigm shift by stakeholders from all sides. Still, I was of concern and threat to others who in turn acted out. I took a lot of heat in the first five or six years, especially leading up to the 2012 Challis roundup, but that made no difference because I was following my truth. I was boots-on-the-ground, knocking on doors, meeting with stakeholders face-to-face, bridging divides, and building working relationships by walking my talk. Experiencing resistance and attempts to undermine or derail Wild Love's efforts were not surprising, albeit unfortunate and rather disappointing considering the sources. The actions of others were reflections of themselves and had nothing to do with my path and Wild Love's mission in attaining lasting wildness.
Time and again, I’ve been accused of being altruistic, and frankly, I'm proud of that. I've dealt with my share of self-serving characters and blow-hards, and have taken countless hits on behalf of truth and working to help others. It comes with the territory. I’ve upset apple-carts with my honesty and my concern for our collective well-being. All said, Wild Love has always remained steeled in our origins, as I am hell-bent on integrity, truth, action, and follow-through. Together we have turned a page in the history books. We have led by example and have had a substantial positive influence via our methods of conflict resolution and our conservation platform. I’ve said it time and again, we are saving wild lives by working together.
In recent years, a few who now stand on the side of working with all stakeholders state they've brought opposing sides together for the first time, claiming their efforts a paradigm shift. They choose not to recognize the grassroots work that has come long before and for which they are well aware. Never is there mention of their stance in years prior, nor do they publicly acknowledge our collaborative work in Idaho and joint successes with stakeholders for over a decade because that doesn't fit with their agendas. They have unfortunately created greater divides in wild horse advocacy with their approach. I continue to receive calls and questions from many who are quite put-off by this, and I continue to answer, "It's no surprise." That's the nature of humans and corporate entities - to take what they want and protect their interests.
For Wild Love Preserve, wild horses have led the way in protecting the whole and have offered a unique opportunity to implement change by walking new paths together. By way of knocking on doors, face-to-face communications, and boots-on-the-ground action, Wild Love has blazed a trail in teamwork, creating a wild horse conservation model in coexistence that has gone on to help and inspire others. Our inclusive approach to addressing all facets of wild horse population on their home turf, while nurturing the health and sustainability of respective indigenous habitats as an interconnected and balanced whole, has offered a viable and beneficial alternative to the government system of roundups and removals. Subsequently, Idaho has set a new precedence in taking care of our own at home by working together. We have demonstrated that Wild Love's model benefits wild horses, stakeholders, the region, and the state in a multi-layered manner. We have brought new sources of revenue to the community and have saved taxpayers well over $8.5 million since 2013 with our programs on and off the range. That was the goal from the onset, to turn the Challis-Idaho wild horses into an asset and create a wild horse conservation model in Idaho that we could share in hopes of also helping other wild horse regions in the West.
Conflict resolution and human relations have been essential facets of this project. Folks were understandably suspicious of me in the beginning, "that wild horse girl." I am incredibly appreciative of all those who have given me and Wild Love a chance - those who have helped us, worked with us, supported us, and joined us on this wild adventure. I have listened and learned, and perhaps some feel the same in return. The organic evolution of this project is rooted in the willingness of the Bureau of Land Management, ranchers, cowboys, environmentalists, scientists, wildlife biologists, youth groups, and advocates to engage in conversations and negotiations with myself on behalf of Wild Love. Without the help of stakeholders from all sides in Challis and the region, and supporters from around the country and beyond, Wild Love Preserve would not be what it is has become, and for that, I am forever appreciative. To those who have been instrumental to this project, thank you for working with me, for trusting in me, for your kindness, your patience, understanding, and willingness to try something new all those years ago and to this very day. Wild Love is a WE project that is about us all and a reflection of our humanity. It does take a village to implement positive change and do big things. It also requires extreme tenacity and sleepless nights.
Our greatest challenge, which has also slowed our efforts over the years, has not been with stakeholders - it has been raising the necessary project funding for our education and conservation programs and land acquisition. It has been a longtime frustration that has required great sacrifice, but no matter the steep climb, we have remained true to our mission on behalf of our iconic wild horses and wild places because this matters - now and for future generations.
Thank you for walking with us.
Andrea Maki, Founder
Watch: Behind the scenes filming wild horses in Idaho and at Wild Love Preserve for public television. We look forward to sharing more soon.