Visitors to a beauty spot in Birmingham have been warned not to feed the wildlife there as they are “being kindly killed”.
Exmoor ponies have been an integral part of Sutton Park in Sutton Coldfield since 1999.
But park users put them at risk by feeding them, which can make them sick and, in turn, tame them.
As a wild pack animal, any tame pony will be removed from the park and likely “knocked down”.
Sutton Coldfield City Councilor John Cooper (Walmley and Minworth, Cons.) Has spoken of the dangers park users expose the popular ponies to by feeding and approaching them.
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In addition to being poorly fed, ponies have been known to forage in bins, eat bags of dog waste, and get way too close to visitors, which can result in their being taken out of the park.
Two ponies were separated from the pack and placed in pens by the milk gate on the streetly side about a week ago. One thought he was sick because he was fed carrots and apples.
“Don’t feed the ponies”
Cllr Cooper said, “Despite repeated comments around the park ponies, people feel friendly to the ponies by encouraging them to come closer and feed them carrots and other foods they are not used to.
“This is clearly a case of killing by kindness, in this case of misguided kindness.
“Feeding the ponies is the responsibility of the ranger service in the park. When there is not enough natural food, it is the rangers, not the public, who supplement it.
“They eat prairie and holly leaves. There is enough to eat in the park.
“The ponies are in the north of the park, where there is usually plenty of natural food all year round.”
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He continued, “Please don’t feed the ponies.
“If you do and they get sick or too kind, they will be removed and we will lose everyone, including the ponies who have nowhere to go. The ranger told me that if visitors screw it up, the ponies will be dumped.
“If you see any family being ‘unkindly’ feeding the ponies, ask them to stop immediately. If we all go on like this, maybe we can keep the ponies in the park. You are a delight. “
Cllr Cooper added, “The ponies also get too friendly and follow people. You should be left alone. “He said if you see the ponies approach, shoo them away and clap your hands.
Sutton Park Exmoor ponies have been taken out of the pack, one considered sick and underweight and the other there to “keep company”.
(Image: Claire Brodie)
“Ponies are getting tamer”
His view was borne out by Four Oaks’ regular Claire Brodie, who said the ponies were becoming “tamer.”
She said, “I spoke to one of the rangers after seeing a pony in a pen and she said it was ‘pretty bad’. It was underweight. There was someone else to keep him company.
“I talked to her about people feeding her. I have been going to the park for years and have noticed that the ponies have gotten a lot friendlier and tamer. “
Claire said, “They used to be scared, but now they go into the parking lots and that in itself could be a problem if they kick a child.
“Their concern was that they have become so tame that they are neither wild nor tame. Then they are taken out of the park and put down.
“There are signs saying that the ponies should not be fed and the ranger said when you see they are shooing them away.
“My dogs find carrots that are brought to feed them. And the trash in the park also affects the ponies and wildlife. People have to take this home with them. ”
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What did the park rangers say?
Sutton Park rangers have posted signs in the park warning visitors not to feed or get too close to the ponies.
The sign reads, “Don’t feed them and allow them to get their vitamins and minerals from natural food sources by grazing.
“Keep a reasonable distance from the ponies. Jeep dogs under control at all times.
“Why not feed? Food can get stuck in your throats. As “wild” ponies, it affects their behavior. It keeps them from eating naturally.
“Tame ponies will be removed from the construction site.”
A Birmingham City Council spokesman said: “Animals graze for environmental benefits that are lost when given human food.
“People should think carefully about food surpluses when they have it and try to use it in other ways for the benefit of the community, such as to support food banks.”