Parks Victoria to shoot 500 Barmah brumbies and start on 5000 more in Alps

Thousands of brumbies in selected state forests and national parks will be killed, state government plans reveal.

Parks Victoria has confirmed it intends to eradicate all 500 brumbies in the Barmah State Forest and will soon begin ground shooting another 5000 in the Alpine National Park.

Victorian Parliament’s Public Accounts and Estimates Committee grilled Environment Minister Lily D’Ambrosio and Parks Victoria chief Matt Jackson last week on how many brumbies they intended to shoot under a tender process first exposed by The Weekly Times.

Ms D’Ambrosio confirmed during questioning from Liberal PAEC member Bev McArthur brumbies would be shot.

Lily D’Ambrosio has confirmed the imminent brumby cull in the Barmah State Forest.

Mr Jackson said the plan was to reduce Barmah’s population of 500 down to 100 under the three-year contract “with a view of eradication over the forward years”.

Asked how many of the 5000 brumbies in the Alpine National Park would be shot under the contract Mr Jackson said “that will be subject to the operational plans, seasonality, tourism and safety of our staff and contractors”.

Parks Victoria’s tender documents state that while shooters can take out pigs, deer and goats, it is feral horses that are the “primary target”.

The tender documents also demand shooters use suppressors to reduce the noise of gunfire and demand “every effort must be made to avoid shooting feral animals in waterways, close to roads, vehicle and walking tracks and camping areas where carcasses may be visible to the public.

“Carcasses in waterways, carcasses visible from a road, vehicle track, walking track or camping area must be moved and/or broken down and removed from view if safe and feasible to do so.”

Lucky ones: After rehoming just 10 brumbies from the Barmah National Park, authorities are preparing to shoot up to 400 more over the next three years. Picture: Zoe Phillips

Contract shooters must also sign confidentiality agreements, with Parks Victoria warning any “leaks of information of any kind by the contractor will be deemed a breach of contract” leading to termination.

“Any contractor personnel deemed by Parks Victoria staff as being unfit to maintain information security or lack the necessary risk management approach to maintaining operational safety will be stood down at the sole discretion of Parks Victoria as being unfit for the duties described herein.”

The contract also calls on shooting contractors to undertake both day and night shooting using thermal scopes, which Victoria’s Brumby Action Group spokeswoman Marilyn Nuske warned would lead to “multiple missed shots on running horses and foals, no matter how good the shooter is.

“We strenuously oppose the decision of Parks Victoria and the Minister for Environment, who must be condemned for plans that are contrary to best animal welfare, standard operating procedures and model codes of practice, and must not proceed on grounds of potential

gross cruelty.”