Police investigating ‘firebomb’ threat made to National Parks staff after brumby cull

Police are investigating threats made against National Parks staff in a handwritten letter, following the start of a state-sanctioned cull of feral horses.

Radical feral horse-loving extremists have threatened to ‘fire bomb’ the offices of the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, as the controversy surrounding the legal culling of brumbies in the Kosciuszko National Park explodes.

Police have been alerted after a handwritten letter was sent to National Parks staff at their Kosciuszko region office last week stating: “ … as a little act of retribution we plan to pay a visit … and firebomb your premises! Make sure you are all very careful over the next couple of weeks, we would hate you to get burnt”.

Officers from Monaro Police District confirmed they were investigating the letter.

It comes after photos were released earlier this month of 11 dead brumbies, which had been shot in a government-mandated cull aimed at reducing their numbers to manageable levels.

While the images drew outrage from pro-brumby activists, the state-sanctioned cull was cleared by an independent RSPCA NSW investigation.

A family group of Brumbies in Kosciuszko National Park Picture: Paul McIver

Its understood staff have now expressed concerns for their wellbeing after the threatening letter, alongside a barrage of abuse on social media.

Messages posted on social media and seen by The Daily Telegraph include “shoot the dogs that did this”.

Other messages directed at staff included “maybe we can give them some ‘gut shots’ and see if they can deny that!”, after inaccurate claims brumbies had been killed by being shot in the stomach – which would have lead to a slow, painful death.

The head of the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), Atticus Fleming, said it was “a sad day for NSW when public servants are threatened with violence”.

“The threat to fire bomb a NPWS office is a criminal act, and should be condemned by all Australians,” he said.

“NPWS staff are public officials implementing the law, despite very challenging circumstances.”

NPWS staff have been left anxious by the letter. Picture: Angelo Soulas

“NPWS is working closely with the NSW Police and when the offenders are caught, we will expect the full force of the law to be applied.”

He confirmed additional security measures have been employed to protect staff, with The Telegraph understanding the government body has hired private security and requested increased police patrols around their offices in the wake of the threats.

Environment Minister James Griffin said the threats were “disgraceful and unacceptable”.

“Our NPWS team is dedicated and hardworking and no one should ever be threatened just for doing their job,” he said.

“Anyone making such threats should expect to feel the full force of the law.”

The flashpoint comes as the NPWS carries out state-sanctioned culling, trapping and rehoming to reduce the number of brumbies in the delicate highland national park from 14,000 to 3,000.

Environmentalists and pro-brumby activists have been split for years over efforts to manage their numbers in the delicate national park. Picture: Paul McIver

The agreement to reduce the number of brumbies came after years of internal Coalition turmoil over the move, with former Deputy Premier John Barilaro introducing legislation in 2018 vetoing culling of the iconic but destructive feral beasts.

The heated debate over the future of the brumbies comes amid activists claiming the brumbies represent an iconic and important part of the region’s history.

Environmentalists, however, fear the thousands of feral horses are causing “long-term damage” to the delicate snowy ecosystem, which harbours 11 threatened native animal species.