Aerial culling of Kosciuszko feral horses labelled a success

The feral horse population in the Kosciuszko National Park has fallen for the first time in years after the government trialled aerial shooting, a control measure bitterly contested by some opponents.

After years of debate the government approved the trial in October, and this month’s survey figures suggest there are now about 17,432 horses in the park.

Brumby numbers in the Kosciuszko National Park have dropped for the first time in years. Credit: James Brickwood

Previously, the NSW government published data last year showed there were 18,814 feral horses in the park, a sharp increase from the estimate of 14,380 horses two years ago. In 2016, there were 6000 in the park.

The government has a management plan that would reduce the horse population to 3000 by June 30, 2027. Previously, environmental groups have said the number of feral horses could increase to 50,000 in the next decade unless stronger measures were introduced.

Following this year’s results, the NSW government said it could not meet the 3000 target without aerial shooting. This year’s horse data does not include animals shot from a helicopter. The decision was made after the survey was conducted.

The management of feral horses has been hugely controversial, but feral species are the leading cause of extinction of native animals in Australia.

The NSW government previously relied on ground shooting, trapping and rehoming to manage feral horse numbers, but it wasn’t enough to keep horse numbers down.

Despite more resources than ever being pumped into feral animal management and National Parks and Wildlife Services (NPWS), ecologists and environmental groups said years of natural disasters, climate change and political inaction have allowed feral animals to flourish, pushing much of Australia’s native flora and fauna to the brink.

Brumbies, or feral horses, degrade and damage waterways and bushland, kill native wildlife, including the corroboree frog, the broad-toothed rat and rare alpine orchids, and are also a multibillion-dollar annual cost to agriculture in NSW.

Wednesday’s update from the government said the trial had been successful and was endorsed by an independent vet and the RSPCA NSW as best practice.

During a two-day trial, 270 horses were shot with no adverse animal welfare events, the government said.

Two helicopters were used, with an independent veterinarian positioned in each of the helicopters to observe and evaluate the operation. In addition, 43 horses were inspected by veterinarians on the ground.

Indigenous river guide Richard Swain said aerial shooting was the most humane method to reduce feral horse numbers.

“We can’t afford any more senseless destruction of our rivers and wildlife. The time for talks and reviews is over. We need action and impact on the ground,” he said.

Jack Gough, advocacy director at the Invasive Species Council, said while the decline in horse numbers was modest, it was the first in two decades that feral horse numbers had declined.

“This reduction of the feral horse population has occurred despite very good seasonal conditions in recent years which would normally have led to a population explosion,” he said.

“No one likes to see animals killed, but the sad reality is that we have a choice to make between urgently reducing the numbers of feral horses or accepting the destruction of sensitive alpine ecosystems and habitats, and the decline and extinction of native animals.

“We may not like it, but culling by highly trained professionals is the only viable way of reducing numbers and saving the national park and our native animals that live there.”

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