Point Reyes Animal Rights Activists Plan Protest Against NPS

POINT REYES, CA — Animal rights activists are planning a protest this weekend against the National Parks Service alleging mistreatment of the Tule elk they attribute to park mismanagement.

The “Rally to save Tule elk” will be held Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Point Reyes Station’s Bear Valley Visitor Center.

The protest is being held by the groups the Defense of Animals, Tree Spirit Project and ForELK.

The protesters said in a statement announcing the event that they aim to what they describe as “deadly mismanagement of Point Reyes National Seashore.”

The protesters said the event is being held is in response to the NPS announcing that 152 Tule elk died in 2020.

“The Tule elk at this Preserve are precious since they are the largest remaining population of their species in the world. However, they are prevented from reaching water and forage in California’s drought season since they are trapped behind an 8-foot fence which stretches for miles across the peninsula,” the protest organizers said in a statement.

“The fence preserves resources for private ranchers. Over 100 more of these rare native elk are expected to die this year if the NPS is allowed to enact its disastrous and controversial management plan.

“Fenced elk will continue to die from drought and elk in two other free-ranging herds will be shot to benefit private, profit-driven ranchers renting land at below-market rates in this public national park unit.”