Brumby’s days numbered after shift in alpine regions
Alex Mitchell |
Distraught advocates say Australia’s entire brumby population is doomed after lawmakers erased heritage protections in a famed alpine park.
A late-night parliamentary sitting scrapped laws introduced by the NSW Nationals in 2018 that protected the “heritage value” of the brumby population within Kosciuszko National Park.
The laws included maintaining a minimum population of 3000 horses.
Environment groups have long argued the protection has helped destroy the park and elevate the hooved feral animals over native species.
But horse supporters including the Australian Brumby Alliance worry the lack of protection will result in the population being wiped out, and suffering along the way.
“The (alliance) is saddened at a decision that will see the demise of the Australian brumby, not only in KNP (Kosciuszko National Park), but Australia-wide,” president Nikki Alberts told AAP.
“Recent aerial culling has proven to be cruel, with horses shot multiple times in the gut and spine and many left to bleed out.
“With zero oversight ability to hold people to account for best practices, the horses can suffer an even worse fate at the hands of shooters who can do what they want.”
Aerial culling was reintroduced under NSW Labor to tackle a surging population that had reached an estimated 17,000 to 21,700 by late 2023.
Survey data puts the latest estimate between 1579 and 5639 horses in NSW.
Victoria at last estimate had between 1450 and 5100 wild horses across alpine and other areas.
After rehoming 78 of the wild horses she described as “resilient, smart and honest”, Ms Alberts said a large piece of the national park’s identity was being taken away.
“Many in the Snowy area value the brumbies’ history in the region and they have been integral to their day-to-day lives … admired for being sturdy and brave, and for the part they played on our ears,” she said.
After debate neared midnight on Thursday, the protections were removed with support from Labor, the Liberals and crossbench members in the NSW parliament’s upper house.
The Nationals maintained their opposition.
“Today, Country can breathe again,” Invasive Species Council Indigenous ambassador Richard Swain said on Friday.
“This is a victory for truth over mythology, and for those who have fought for generations to protect these high places and the life they hold.
“For years, we’ve watched the alpine wetlands dry out, the snow-grass trampled, the frogs and fish vanish.”
Independent MP Joe McGirr, whose electorate covers part of the park, introduced the bill to the lower house, attributing surging population numbers and a badly damaged environment to the laws.
“The Wild Horse Heritage Act put symbolism ahead of science and ideology ahead of evidence – and our most fragile alpine landscapes paid the price,” Dr McGirr said.
Before-and-after images of a controversial aerial brumby cull showed reduced bare ground, increased vegetation coverage, and less soil damage and trampling of stream banks.
Water quality, threatened species and sensitive areas will all be monitored to track the park’s continued recovery.
AAP
