Wild horses found dead after ‘deceptive’ state government cull in Barmah National Park

Environment Minister has slammed the Opposition’s pledge to end the culling of wild horses saying its a “recipe for destroying” the environment. Warning: Distressing content.

A wild horse found shot and partially covered in Barmah National Park. Photo: Barmah Brumby Preservation Group

Environment Minister Lily D’Ambrosio has slammed the Opposition’s pledge to end the culling of wild horses as “reckless”.

The Victorian Liberal and Nationals on Wednesday revealed they would end Labor’s “cruel plan” to continue slaughtering brumbies through aerial and ground shooting, if elected to power in November.

The new plan represents a major shift in focus to rehoming and veterinary intervention to manage Victoria’s brumby population.

They will also carry out a “thorough and more accurate assessment” of the brumby population by undertaking population management methods that focus on rehoming and veterinary intervention.

Nationals leader Peter Walsh said the plan would completely rule out the aerial and ground killing of brumbies.

“We agree with the tens of thousands of Victorians who believe brumby populations can be managed without cruel methods or total eradication,” Mr Walsh said.

“Labor’s approach doesn’t deliver good outcomes for the environment, with abandoned carcasses that are left to rot only serving to feed up destructive and vicious pest animals, like wild dogs.

“Only a change in government in November will deliver a humane, sustainable approach to population management of an iconic animal with strong and enduring ties to Australia’s modern history.”

Barmah Brumby Preservation Group vice president Murray Willaton.

Another horse found in the national park. Photo: Barmah Brumby Preservation Group

Opposition leader Matthew Guy said brumbies had frequented the High Country for a long time.

“We can rehome greyhounds, we should be able to do that with brumbies,” he said.

“You’ve got to be humane.”

But Ms D’Ambrosio rubbished the pledge, calling it a “recipe for destroying” the environment.

“We know that feral horses do not have a place in these pristine environments,” she said.

“We need to do all we can to protect our biodiversity.

“The opposition’s policy is simply a recipe for destroying everything that is special and unique about Victoria’s environment.

“It is also very reckless and has no regard, even for the health of these feral horses. The fact is, not all of them are in good shape.”

Activists are set to descend on the steps of parliament for a brumby rally at 1pm on Wednesday.

Members of the Barmah Brumby Preservation Group had, as of Sunday afternoon, found 33 brumby – or feral horse – carcasses left in the forest, shot and covered with branches.

However, Barmah Brumby Preservation Group vice president Murray Willaton said that there “will be more” yet to be found.

“We have only searched a very small area and it is a very inaccessible area,” he said.

A current tender advertised by Parks Victoria outlines a plan to kill feral horses in the parkland over four consecutive night-time operations, potentially 10 times within one year.

It asks that shooters bring firearm suppressors and thermal imaging equipment.

Willaton said he and other supporters of the forest’s horse population agreed with the need to keep wild animals in check, but not if it were done in a secretive or excessive manner.

“Everyone would have to agree that while there’s a sanctuary and other places that are willing to take these horses, it’s absolutely disgusting that Parks Victoria and the Labor Government and the Yorta Yorta Corporation are shooting them behind people’s backs,” Mr Willaton said.

“They’ve had a shooting spree out here and are absolutely deceiving the public: while this tender process is in place, they’ve already been shooting.

“We haven’t got a problem with them being managed, but what we have got a problem with is why are they secretly shooting them and lying to the public about it when there is a place for these horses to go?

Brumby cull zones in Barmah National Park. Source: Parks Victoria tender

A joint management plan released in April 2020 by the Yorta Yorta Traditional Owner Land Management Board set out the 10-year plan for Barmah National Park.

In regard to submissions about the removal of invasive horses – for which there was a “similar level” of opposing submissions – the plan reiterated the decision to get rid of them all, despite an earlier Parks Victoria document saying the population would only be culled to 100.

Parks Victoria would not on Tuesday reveal the total number of horses it now believes roam the park: the joint management plan from two years ago estimated 750, but Mr Willaton said there were between 200 and 250.

Wild horses in Barmah State Forest.

A Parks Victoria spokesman said the organisation had an obligation to control invasive species in the park, which included feral horses causing long-term and widespread damage to native plants and animals.

“The conservation threats and pressure in Barmah has been exacerbated in recent years by damage from feral horses, deer and other feral animals, accelerated impacts of climate change, and the limited progress of previous feral horse management methods,” he said.

“There are large numbers of feral horses in the Barmah area and the damage they cause is evident.

“The most humane feral horse management techniques have been selected on the best advice, and Parks Victoria needs to respond to the current situation with the best techniques available.”