Just before Christmas rancher Richard French was out surveying his 1,000 acre pasture near Meyer Lake when he came upon a terrible find.
"He noticed that there was one cow shot, went a little further and he found a horse shot," said French’s daughter Melva Wengu. “I guess he just chalked it up to poachers.”
It was a big loss for the ranch that relies on horses to herd the cattle for business.
"It’s more devastating because these horse were like my father’s kids,” Wengu said. “He literally went up to the ranch and yelled come on kids, and they would all run to him and get fed."
Then just last week, an even bigger loss.
“He went up there, surveyed, and he just found one horse after another shot,” Wengu said.
It got even worse than the two he found dead. Molokai police were called, and while doing the report they found another pregnant horse shot in the stomach; she lost her colt and the mare is unlikely to survive due to infection. Another cow was shot, too.
“He’s really devastated about it, and until now, he still can’t talk about it without tearing up,” Wengu said of her father. “This is a man I’ve never seen cry in my life until now."
The ranch is now left with 1 horse for gathering and separating the 150-cattle herd.
According to police, reported losses are in excess of $90,000 for the valuable quarter, palomino and sorrel horses, plus heads of cattle.
“Police are investigating these incidents. At this time we have no suspects," said Maui County Police spokesperson Lt. Wayne Ibarra. “Anyone with information should contact the Molokai Police Department (808-553-5355) or Maui County Crimestoppers (808-242-6966)."
The family has set up a reward account at Bank of Hawaii under the "Innocent Livestock" fund.
The Humane Society of the United States is also likely to add a $2,500 reward for information leading to arrest and conviction.
"It really doesn’t make a difference whether this was a companion horse, whether this was a ranching horse, a farming horse,” said humane society spokesperson Inga Gibson. “The bottom line is that animals are defenseless.We need to protect them. It is never acceptable to shoot an animal."
Many animal cruelty laws are being strengthened this session, including coverage of horses. And after recent crimes such as papaya vandalism and farm thefts, lawmakers are already working on bills to strengthen agricultural penalties too.
"This is terrible what’s happening out there, with the ranchers and farmers and so forth,” said Sen. Gilbert Kahele, vice chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee. “These are hard-working people who are trying to make a living, and with dire financial times the way it is now."
“My entire family is devastated,” Wengu said. “This is their livelihood, this is how they make their income, this is just like telling them, ok you’re fired. And how they’re going to support their family, we can only guess.”
They also can only guess about why it’s happening.
“We’re hoping it’s not some crazy kid out there that’s getting a thrill out of killing animals and, you know, after the thrill is gone it escalates to people. Something needs to be done,” Wengu said. “As far as we know there’s absolutely no feud, nothing to drive anyone to go out and maliciously do something like this to my family or to my father’s business. They haven’t received any threats. I know they’re fearful for the remaining horses they do have.”
“Regardless if they’re posing a nuisance, if there’s an issue with the owners of the animals, then there are much more humane ways to deal with the problems,” Gibson said.
Now the ranchers hope someone will come forward or be turned in.
“Whoever this person or persons is that did this has some sort of a conscience and is able to come forward. It’s going to be easier for you if you come forward and say something other than someone else having to turn you in,” Wengu said. “Somebody has to know something. This island is small. You can’t do nothing without somebody else knowing."
See the original article at: KHON2 Developing Stories
