Hundreds of wild horses to be euthanised under a new plan to protect Victoria’s Alpine region

HUNDREDS of wild horses in Victoria’s Alpine areas will be caught and killed if they cannot be rehomed, under a new plan to protect plants and wildlife in the Alpine National Park.

HUNDREDS of wild horses in Victoria’s Alpine areas will be caught and killed if they cannot be rehomed, under a new plan to deal with the feral animals.

The Andrews Government has launched the Protection of the Alpine National Park — Feral Horse Strategic Plan 2018-2021, which identified 2500 feral horses in Victorian parks causing havoc on plants and wildlife.

Wild horses are set to be euthanised if they can’t be rehomed. Picture: Stephen Cooper

Picture: Stephen Cooper

Under the strategy up to 400 animals will be trapped and removed each year.

Authorities will attempt to rehome as many animals as possible however, many will have diseases, physical issues and unsuitable temperaments and will have to be destroyed.

Culling of brumby’s in Australia’s Alpine region has been a contentious issue in recent years with outraged animal advocates campaigning heavily against the practice.

BRUMBY CULL IS VITAL FOR ENVIRONMENT, ECOLOGY EXPERTS SAY

In May a controversial plan to kill thousands of animals in the Kosciuszko National Park was scrapped following backlash from the community.

Victoria is not stipulating a projected number of animals to be killed under the current plan.

Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio said action must be taken to stem the wild horse population.

Minister Lily D’Ambrosio unveils plan. Picture: David Caird

“Feral horses cannot be allowed to run rampant in the Alpine National Park — their hard hoofs damage the precious environment and destroy the habitats of threatened species,’’ she said.

“We have developed a strong plan to protect this treasured part of the world and we call on the NSW and the Turnbull governments to support it.”

A draft plan was released in 2017 prompting around 1,000 submissions from stakeholders and the community.

Parks Victoria Chief Conservation Scientist Dr Mark Norman said the agency has “an obligation to protect and conserve the delicate environment of our Alpine National Park —

and feral horse management is an integral part of that.”

“We look forward to working with our stakeholders in developing the operational plan and commencing the program later in 2018.”

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