Horse lovers given the chance to own a Barmah Forest wild brumby
Brumbies have long been associated as a beautiful, untamed symbol of the Australian Alps — and the Victorian government is set to give the wild horses away for free under a radical pest control plan.
VIC News
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Wild horses will be given away by the state government under a radical plan to reduce brumby numbers in the Barmah Forest.
Parks Victoria last week announced it would try to trap and rehome as many wild horses as possible, as part of its planned cull.
Horses that are not rehomed will likely be shot and killed.
Horse lovers can submit an expression of interest to take on and train a brumby from the State’s north.
However, Parks Victoria has stressed only experienced horse handlers should apply.
“The feral horses removed from the parks are wild animals,” it said.
“You need to demonstrate the skills and capacity to properly care for these animals to be accepted into the program.
“You will need to be prepared to train and care for the horses should you choose to accept ownership of them.”
Under the government’s Barmah Forest action plan, brumby numbers will be reduced from about 540 to 100 over the next four years, with up to 120 horses removed this year alone.
“The reduction of feral horse numbers will primarily be delivered through two control methods, passive trapping and rehoming where appropriate recipients are secured and ground shooting of free-ranging horses using professional shooters,” the plan states.
The horses would be trapped by luring them into yards with baits of salt, molasses and lucerne hay, it says.
Parks Victoria regional director Daniel McLaughlin said removal of the brumbies from the forest was vital for the protection of native flora and fauna, as the horses destroyed fragile wetland areas through grazing and trampling of the vegetation.
The Barmah Forest supported wildlife including waterbirds, frogs, fish and turtles, he said.
“These species are critically impacted by feral horses and other threats to the site,” Mr McLaughlin said.
“The forest and the animals that reside there have evolved over millions of years in isolation from feral horses and other introduced species. Without protection from feral animals, the ecosystem has little chance of recovery.”
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While it was originally planned to have professional shooters kill most of the horses, community backlash had seen a change of tact and the preferred method of removing the brumbies from the park was now rehoming them.
Expressions of interest in owning a wild horse can be made here.