Brumby deaths: Family mare mistaken for a brumby, shot dead in East Gippsland

New revelations have emerged from the Victorian High Country, where a much-loved family horse was killed after joining a brumby mob.

Warning: Some readers may find images and video contained within this article disturbing.

Another grisly horse shooting in East Gippsland has been revealed, as RSPCA Victoria and the Mountain Cattlemen’s Association of Victoria denounce the brumby killings which took place at Nunniong over the holidays.

After The Weekly Times last week revealed the East Gippsland camping area had been littered with rotting horse corpses over Christmas and New Year’s — thought to be the work of illegal spotlighters — a mother from Lindenow shared her family’s sad story.

Kristy Roberts-Humphries, a retail worker from the East Gippsland town, told The Weekly Times her family’s mare, Dakoda, was found shot dead last April, a month after escaping and joining a Nunniong brumby mob in March last year.

“She was a domestic horse but she decided to go for a wander and join up with a brumby mob,” she said. “April 10th we got a message that someone had come along a shot horse and they sent us photos.

“I was speechless, I didn’t know what to say.”

Kristy Roberts-Humphries’ mare was shot through the head after escaping and running with a brumby mob. Picture: Supplied

Ms Roberts-Humphries said her daughters, aged 11 and nine, “still have nightmares about it”.

She said Dakoda was shot from the road by hunters.

The mare was a much-loved member of the family. Picture: Supplied

“This has been going on for years and we’re sick of it. Hunters get up there a lot and shoot at any set of eyes they see,” she said.

“They separate mothers and foals quite a bit.”

Ms Roberts-Humphries said the frequency of similar events had made her start to worry for her children’s safety, having experienced close calls in the past with hunters shooting through a campground where she and her husband, Chris, were staying.

“Even the deer don’t do the damage that people do up there,” she said.

“The responsibility falls on Parks (Victoria). If their aim is to have Nunniong populated with pigs they’re going the right way about it.”

In response to the recent reports of alleged illegal brumby kills, RSPCA Vic wrote:

“We are concerned and distressed by reports of alleged illegal shooting of brumbies. RSPCA Victoria does not condone illegal shooting of brumbies by members of the public.

“The Victorian Government is the lead agency currently investigating this matter and RSPCA Victoria will provide support if required.”

Cass McCormack, MCAV president with her father and former president, Bruce. Picture: Supplied

Cass McCormack, president of the MCAV, reaffirmed her organisation’s strong stance against brumby kills.

“The MCAV does not support shooting brumbies full stop,” she said. “We were dismayed to hear of recent accounts of people mindlessly heading out to ‘trophy hunt’ brumbies in the Nunniong area. Brumbies are a national icon and part of our heritage and folklore.

“When brumbies are culled without regard for age, sex and temperament, such as what happened recently, you end up with genetically unsustainable horses — and foals without mothers.

“The MCAV will re-home any foals caught that have been left motherless due to the recent slaughtering. The organisation would like to personally oversee a rehoming program — given the opportunity.”

Parks Victoria again refused to comment on the grounds that Nunniong is not within its jurisdiction.