Namibian wild horses. (Photo by Namibia Wild Horses Foundation)

WINDHOEK, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Namibia Wild Horses Foundation (NWHF) Wednesday said Namib Wild horses, facing dwindling population, would be relocated to protect them from predators.

The association said hyenas are threatening the survival of the wild horses in the Garub area of the Namib Naukluft National Park and if the current rate of death continues, the horses might be extinct by August.

NWHF said that the rate of predation has increased significantly during the past two months.

"The number of mares is down to 42 and we estimate that at this rate the population will be 'functionally extinct', some may still be around but it's inevitable that they will go extinct by August," NWHF added.

According to the association, no foal has survived since 2013 and the horse population has steadily dropped.

"Due to the drought, most of the other migratory game has moved north and east looking for greener pastures which leaves mainly only horses to prey on in the Garub area," NWHF said.

The NWHF and the Environment Ministry concluded that a solution that would be best for both the hyenas and the horses is to move the horses.

According to the NWHF, the ideal location would be somewhere near the Garub area where the horses have lived for over 100 years and where they will still be accessible to the public.