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In total 29 Konik horses living in the southern part of the Oostvaardersplassen nature reserve near Almere are being put down for becoming too tame and creating ‘dangerous situations’, forestry commission Staatsbosbeheer has said.

The horses were approached, petted and fed by visitors over the past year and had started approaching people, warden Hans-Erik Kuypers said. They lived in part of the 6,000 hectare reserve which is open to the public.

The horses can seem threatening and ‘we don’t want to take the risk of accidents’, Kuypers said. ‘The horses have to be removed and, given the lack of alternative locations, the animals will be put down.’

He said that transferring the horses to private owners was not an option, given they were used to being able to roam over a large area in a group.

The forestry commission is urging people not to approach or feed any horses still in this part of the reserve.