Snowy River brumbies: Calls for Aussies to create a sanctuary for the wild horses
IT IS backed by Hollywood heavyweights Robert Redford and Pamela Anderson, and now a Californian wild horse sanctuary believes it has a solution to saving the Snowy Mountain brumbies.
NSW
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- Brumbies in Snowy River in crosshairs in bid to save park
- Horseman aims to stop cull and tame animals with youth
IT IS the California wild horse sanctuary riding to the rescue of our Snowy Mountain brumbies.
With the deadline for the state government to adopt its final plan for dealing with the brumbies having expired, The Sunday Telegraph asked Return To Freedom how it is dealing with US government roundups of wild horses.
Backed by Hollywood heavyweights Robert Redford and Pamela Anderson, Return to Freedom Wild Horse Sanctuary and Preservation, created a safe haven for horses in 1998, with almost 400 living out their days roaming a 600ha property.
Together with education programs, the sanctuary runs a conservation program to protect bloodlines of herds that can be traced back to early Spanish colonial horses.
It also takes part in scientific trials such as a recent pilot project for the fertility control vaccine PZP, which it is pushing the local land management authorities to adopt as an alternative to “traumatic” and costly roundups. Such is its reputation, donors such as Redford have joined the board, while Anderson actively promotes its initiatives.
Return To Freedom president Neda De-Mayo said there was no reason why a similar sanctuary could not be established in Australia to allow tourists and locals to view the Snowy River brumbies.
RELATED: TEEN SAVES WILD BRUMBY FOAL FROM SNOWY MOUNTAINS
This could include adopting a landholder-based conservation program where farmers are supported in creating sanctuaries on their properties.
“There is no question that similar non-profit sanctuaries could work in Australia, as part of a larger solution, if supporters of the brumbies can raise the money for their ongoing care and can work with those who know wild horses best to start sanctuaries,” Ms DeMayo said.
Under the Kosciuszko National Park Draft Wild Horse management Plan brumby numbers would be reduced from 6000 to around 600 within 20 years, with an initial cull of 3000 animals. The horses are blamed for damaging pristine park environments.
The shooting of horses in the US is banned, with authorities instead rounding them up and putting them up for adoption.
However, adoption numbers have fallen, with many horses ending up in Mexico where they are slaughtered.
Nationals leader John Barilaro, who has called for the brumbies’ protection, and Environment Minister Mark Speakman declined to comment.
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