In November 2023, the New South Wales Government and Minister for Environment, Penny Sharpe, sought to re-introduce aerial shooting in New South Wales, more particularly Kosciouszko National Park, after a 20 year ban on aerial shooting following a decision by the then Attorney General that aerial shooting was to be banned in New South Wales due to the gross cruelty observed after aerial shooting 600 brumbies in Guy Fawkes National Park. After the cruel shooting many brumbies were found, shot but surviving for up to a week, slowly dying. One in foal mare was found with gut shots, still living, writing in pain.
RSPCA were successfully prosecuted during that time.
Fast Forward to 2023 National Parks and Wildlife Services proceed to introduce their own Standard Operating Procedures that would allow aerial shooting, unsupported by the National Regulator, Pestsmart, National /Code of Practice for the Humane Control of “feral” horses that does not support any activities with brumbies during foaling season, does not support aerial shooting because of the risk of mis-shooting from a moving helicopter or even ground shooting of free roaming horses, because of the high risk of galloping horses being mis-shot. It is a decision to avoid any cruelty.
Please note however, Brumbies in KNP are protected by Legislation.
The Standard Operating Procedures introduced by National Parks and Wildlife Services provide for aerial shooting of “foals first” in some sort of effort to remove the application of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.
However, the carcass that were observed and photographed, after opening of the Park KNP in October 2024, following 12 of months closure, for lethal management including aerial shooting does not support any sort of argument that the aerial cull was “humane”.
It was not, it was a barbaric bloodbath of brumbies not dissimilar to what took place in Guy Fawkes National Park where brumbies were discovered with multiple body shots most of which would not have led to an instant or short death.
The Kosiouszko National Park was closed from October 2023 until October 2024 while aerial shooting of brumbies took place. Visitors were banned it is assumed to avoid them seeing the outcomes of the cruel aerial shooting or the carcass that were left to rot, some in waterways. (Follow link to photographic gallery)
What was discovered when the Park re-opened in October 2024 was not only what has been described as “cruel shooting” but obviously “abhorrent” and horrendous to think that a sentient creature could be treated in such a way.
Well known and celebrated photographers visited the sites known for brumby populations that were dramatically reduced, in some cases no longer existing, to discover carcass of brumbies that had suffered cruel and barbaric slow deaths.
National Parks and Wildlife Services have, anecdotally wiped out the mob of brumbies that inspired the writings of Elyne Mitchell who wrote the Silver Brumby Series. An absolute travesty.
Carcass of brumbies were found strewn under tree canopies where they had been herded en masse by low flying helicopters. Terrified brumbies passed an excruciating terror as they were herded under tree canopies, to be fired on. There would have been no possibility of shooters knowing whether brumbies were dead, no possibility to land in amongst tree canopies to ensure a speedy death. Brumbies had taken shots to the neck, mares gut shots then involuntarily aborted, stallions with shot to the back.
There was certainty all brumbies observed had died long drawn out deaths, having been shot, after being herded by helicopters beneath tree canopies and opening fire, there “was no possibility helicopters could land to inspect whether the brumbies were dead or alive” (Anonymous photographer)
The cull conducted by National Parks and Wildlife Services has been an abominable testament to barbaric cruelty, observed and captured by photographers once the KNP re-opened.
Please visit the page Photographs
Please sign the Campaign Letter to ask the Premier of NSW Christopher Minns and the Minister for Environment, Minister Sharpe to stop the lethal management of brumbies and rely on rehoming once an up to date count of retention zones has been completed using a credible method that is supported by stakeholders.
https://animalrights.good.do/stopthecullNOW/https://animalrights.good.do/stopthecullNOW/
Brumby Action Group Incorporated 