There’s a small, sandy island off the coast of Nova Scotia where hundreds of horses run wild. They’ve been there since the 18th century, and are genetically unlike any other horse in the world. While these horses are beloved, an official animal of Nova Scotia, there have been voices over the years saying they’re an invasive species that needs to be removed, as much for the sake of the island as for themselves. So what does the future look like for the Sable Island horse?

Phillip McLoughlin, ecologist at the University of Saskatchewan who runs the Sable Island Horse Project, joins us.

This episode was produced in collaboration with the Atlas Obscura Podcast - a show that brings listeners mind-blowing stories from fascinating places every weekday. If you want to hear more stories from their great show, we recommend starting here:

Cranes of the DMZ

For a limited time, become a Canadaland Supporter for just $2/month and listen to all three episodes of Canada Obscura ad-free, right now.

You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

(Canada Obscura) The Feral Horses Of Sable Island