AWHC's Stance on GonaCon for Wild Horse Management

On January 15, 2024, the American Wild Horse Conservation (formerly American Wild Horse Campaign) released findings from its Internal Science Committee regarding the use of the GonaCon immunocontraceptive vaccine in wild horses and burros. This comprehensive review highlights concerns about the vaccine's efficacy, reversibility, potential side effects, and feasibility for darting.

The AWHC concludes that current data is insufficient to support GonaCon's use as a management tool for federally-protected herds. Instead, the organization advocates forPZPvaccines, which offer documented efficacy, reversibility, and a simpler protocol for successful inoculation. The impacts ofPZPon wild horse herds are well-documented, whereas GonaCon lacks extensive scientific study and long-term data.

Consequently, AWHC does not endorse the use of GonaCon beyond limited, controlled research settings.