Concerns raised about brumbies being shot once and being left to die in Kosciuszko National Park

Brumbies in NSW national park have been shot once in aerial cullings and seemingly left to die, with concerns raised about the animals’ suffering. See the photo evidence.

Brumbies within a NSW national park have been shot once and seemingly left to die, with concerns raised about the animals’ suffering.

The RSPCA has received a complaint that dead brumbies, aerial-culled at Kosciuszko National Park this month, have been found with gunshot wounds outside the recommended target areas designed to limit their suffering.

Footage has emerged of a horse lying with one bullet wound in the gut, while another two horses nearby were found with wounds in the rump, stomach and shoulders.

A complaint was made to the RSPCA on Monday by two farmers whose properties neighbour the national park.

It detailed the corpses of two dead horses found with multiple gunshot wounds outside the target areas of chest or head.

Brumbies in the national park last month during foaling season.

Additionally Mr Byrne said he discovered the corpse of a lactating mare with only one bullet wound in its gut.

The aerial-shooting operating procedures used by National Parks and Wildlife Service detail that the shooter may only target the chest and head and may not take a primary shot unless the target zones are fully visible.

It also stipulates that a minimum of two shots must be used with at least one other shot fired into the chest to ensure the animal was dead.

Yet in footage taken by Mr Byrne, the bullet holes were clearly outside the target area.

The complaint also claimed that NPWS helicopters had been shooting in “extremely inclement weather conditions of heavy fog and light rain”, saying it was at odds with the culling guidelines.

Mr Byrne said he had found multiple corpses including three he believed went against culling guidelines.

A pair of brumbies are seen grazing near Yarangobilly in Kosciuszko National Park. Picture: Perry Duffin

“I saw that mob (of brumbies) a week earlier, which came up past me and they had foals but now there are no foals to be found whatsoever,” he said.

“One of the fillies I had to roll her over to see the holes, she had been shot in the shoulder which had been distorted.”

A NPWS spokesperson said the agency was aware of the complaint and will assist with any requirements of the RSPCA.

“The RSPCA has been regularly auditing aerial shooting operations. To date there have been no adverse welfare incidents,” the spokesperson said.

“NPWS ensures the highest standards of animal welfare are implemented.

“All operations have been conducted in accordance with the Standard Operating Procedure.”

The NSW government is required by law to keep the wild horse population to roughly 3000 by 2027.

A horse with what appears to be one bullet hole after aerial shooting commenced inside Kosciuszko National Park.

Environment Minister Penny Sharpe last year announced plans to recommence aerial shooting to reduce the brumby population in the Kosciuszko National Park, which environmental experts say are wreaking havoc on the habitat of a number of threatened species in the area.

Since November 2021, 4152 horses have been removed with 1336 killed by aerial shooting. More than 900 have been rehomed.

More than 1600 horses have been removed from the park since October last year.

Animal Justice MP Emma Hurst accused the government of ignoring RSPCA advice to not shoot during foaling season and warned of another massacre.

“I am concerned with all the photos and video evidence coming through, we are looking at another Guy Fawkes botched killing spree.”

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