The NSW Government has confirmed no wild horses were removed or relocated in Kosciuszko National Park last year, as new data shows the decline in wild horse extraction.
In a response to The Land, a spokesman for the Office of Environment and Heritage said : “Removal of horses 2018 did not occur due to the release of the Kosciuszko Wild Horse Heritage Act”.
“Expressions of interest were called for members of the community advisory panel and the scientific advisory panel to prepare the draft horse heritage management plan,” the spokesman said.
“The expressions of interest closed last month and these are now being considered.”
The Invasive Species Council has obtained data showing the decline in brumby removal in Kosciuszko. The data shows a peak of removals in the northern part of the park in 2012 of 600 horses, to no removals last year. The nationals Parks in 2016 estimated there were 6000 brumbies in the park. Scientists estimate the population may grow by up to 20 per cent a year. The drought though is believed to have curtailed brumby growth rates.
“No feral horses have been removed from the southern half of Kosciuszko National Park since April 2016, or the northern half since August 2017,” Invasive Species Council CEO Andrew Cox said.
“Figures provided by the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service show all removal of feral horses from Kosciuszko National Park using any control method have come to a standstill. The Kosciuszko feral horse control program is in meltdown.”
“Even before feral horses were given protected status under the Kosciuszko Wild Horse Heritage Act in June 2018, NSW Environment Minister Gabrielle Upton had caved in to horse interests and Deputy Premier John Barilaro, who seems more interested in appeasing brumby lobbyists than protecting Kosciuszko National Park,” Mr Cox said.
“Trapping and transporting horses to abattoirs, recognised by animal welfare experts as one of the most humane population control method available where transport is over short distances, has not been used to control feral horse numbers since October 2016, when trapping and rehoming became the sole control method.
“A reduction in horse numbers is looking ever more unlikely. Even to stabilise the feral horse population, many hundreds of horses will need to be removed each year. Historical horse breeding rates are believed to be between six and seventeen per cent a year.
“Deputy Premier John Barilaro has ruled out RSPCA-endorsed humane lethal control options such as the trapping and on-site humane put down method used by Victoria, but now even the trapping and rehoming program is in limbo.
“The NSW Premier needs to intervene and put the environment minister back in charge of feral horse control in Kosciuszko National Park.”
Brumby support groups have also said they are worried no management of wild horses has happened for at least a year. They have called for a sensible solution to the issue and that the heritage worth of the brumbies be protected – as it is currently under NSW law.