Kosciuszko 'turning point' as hard-hooved horses culled
A famed alpine national park appears to be on the mend after a brumby cull, but some still question the process taken to control the population.
Surveys across the Kosciuszko National Park estimate the wild horse population has been slashed to between 1579 and 5639 in little more than a year.
It puts park operators on track to hit a mandated target of 3000 feral horses over nearly one-third of the park by mid-2027.
Before-and-after images from the park show reduced bare ground and increased vegetation coverage, along with less soil damage and trampling of stream banks.
But Animal Justice Party MP Emma Hurst, who chaired a parliamentary inquiry into the aerial shooting of brumbies, said the data supported previous claims the population had been overstated.
"The last population estimate was between 17,000 and 21,700 horses, but now the park could have around 1500 horses left after the removal of 8954 horses," she told AAP.
"Aerial shooting is extremely cruel and unjustified and - given there is now a recognition that the number of horses in the park were never anywhere near as high as the government claimed - it should be taken off the table entirely."
The Australian Brumby Alliance also questioned the data and said it didn't correlate with what they had seen on the ground.
Culling should stop if the population was so low.
"The ABA calls on the government and Parks NSW to cease all trapping and shooting and work with the community to build a plan that is well-informed and involves experienced locals who have been working with the brumbies for many years," president Nikki Alberts told AAP.
Aerial brumby shooting resumed in NSW under the state Labor government in November 2023.
About 6000 have been clipped since to progress towards the population targets.
The headway was welcomed by the Invasive Species Council, who said the declining population showed genuine momentum towards protecting the park.
"We're finally seeing a turning point," chief executive Jack Gough said.
"Fewer hard-hooved feral animals trampling the fragile alpine environment means more native species returning, more delicate wetlands recovering and more hope for one of Australia's most vulnerable national parks."
The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service's methods produced estimates of between 1579 and 4007 horses, and between 2131 and 5639 horses, each with a 95 per cent confidence rating.
The wildlife service is not expected to shoot any more brumbies in the area and it will maintain the 3000-horse population from mid-2027.
Last week, parliament debated repealing the Kosciuszko Wild Horse Heritage Act 2018, introduced by the Nationals to protect the "heritage value" of the brumby population and shape the current population targets.
Mr Gough pointed out no MPs had spoken against the proposal.
Water quality, threatened species and sensitive areas will all be monitored to track the park's continued recovery.
A famed alpine national park appears to be on the mend after a brumby cull, but some still question the process taken to control the population.
Surveys across the Kosciuszko National Park estimate the wild horse population has been slashed to between 1579 and 5639 in little more than a year.
It puts park operators on track to hit a mandated target of 3000 feral horses over nearly one-third of the park by mid-2027.
Before-and-after images from the park show reduced bare ground and increased vegetation coverage, along with less soil damage and trampling of stream banks.
But Animal Justice Party MP Emma Hurst, who chaired a parliamentary inquiry into the aerial shooting of brumbies, said the data supported previous claims the population had been overstated.
"The last population estimate was between 17,000 and 21,700 horses, but now the park could have around 1500 horses left after the removal of 8954 horses," she told AAP.
"Aerial shooting is extremely cruel and unjustified and - given there is now a recognition that the number of horses in the park were never anywhere near as high as the government claimed - it should be taken off the table entirely."
The Australian Brumby Alliance also questioned the data and said it didn't correlate with what they had seen on the ground.
Culling should stop if the population was so low.
"The ABA calls on the government and Parks NSW to cease all trapping and shooting and work with the community to build a plan that is well-informed and involves experienced locals who have been working with the brumbies for many years," president Nikki Alberts told AAP.
Aerial brumby shooting resumed in NSW under the state Labor government in November 2023.
About 6000 have been clipped since to progress towards the population targets.
The headway was welcomed by the Invasive Species Council, who said the declining population showed genuine momentum towards protecting the park.
"We're finally seeing a turning point," chief executive Jack Gough said.
"Fewer hard-hooved feral animals trampling the fragile alpine environment means more native species returning, more delicate wetlands recovering and more hope for one of Australia's most vulnerable national parks."
The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service's methods produced estimates of between 1579 and 4007 horses, and between 2131 and 5639 horses, each with a 95 per cent confidence rating.
The wildlife service is not expected to shoot any more brumbies in the area and it will maintain the 3000-horse population from mid-2027.
Last week, parliament debated repealing the Kosciuszko Wild Horse Heritage Act 2018, introduced by the Nationals to protect the "heritage value" of the brumby population and shape the current population targets.
Mr Gough pointed out no MPs had spoken against the proposal.
Water quality, threatened species and sensitive areas will all be monitored to track the park's continued recovery.
A famed alpine national park appears to be on the mend after a brumby cull, but some still question the process taken to control the population.
Surveys across the Kosciuszko National Park estimate the wild horse population has been slashed to between 1579 and 5639 in little more than a year.
It puts park operators on track to hit a mandated target of 3000 feral horses over nearly one-third of the park by mid-2027.
Before-and-after images from the park show reduced bare ground and increased vegetation coverage, along with less soil damage and trampling of stream banks.
But Animal Justice Party MP Emma Hurst, who chaired a parliamentary inquiry into the aerial shooting of brumbies, said the data supported previous claims the population had been overstated.
"The last population estimate was between 17,000 and 21,700 horses, but now the park could have around 1500 horses left after the removal of 8954 horses," she told AAP.
"Aerial shooting is extremely cruel and unjustified and - given there is now a recognition that the number of horses in the park were never anywhere near as high as the government claimed - it should be taken off the table entirely."
The Australian Brumby Alliance also questioned the data and said it didn't correlate with what they had seen on the ground.
Culling should stop if the population was so low.
"The ABA calls on the government and Parks NSW to cease all trapping and shooting and work with the community to build a plan that is well-informed and involves experienced locals who have been working with the brumbies for many years," president Nikki Alberts told AAP.
Aerial brumby shooting resumed in NSW under the state Labor government in November 2023.
About 6000 have been clipped since to progress towards the population targets.
The headway was welcomed by the Invasive Species Council, who said the declining population showed genuine momentum towards protecting the park.
"We're finally seeing a turning point," chief executive Jack Gough said.
"Fewer hard-hooved feral animals trampling the fragile alpine environment means more native species returning, more delicate wetlands recovering and more hope for one of Australia's most vulnerable national parks."
The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service's methods produced estimates of between 1579 and 4007 horses, and between 2131 and 5639 horses, each with a 95 per cent confidence rating.
The wildlife service is not expected to shoot any more brumbies in the area and it will maintain the 3000-horse population from mid-2027.
Last week, parliament debated repealing the Kosciuszko Wild Horse Heritage Act 2018, introduced by the Nationals to protect the "heritage value" of the brumby population and shape the current population targets.
Mr Gough pointed out no MPs had spoken against the proposal.
Water quality, threatened species and sensitive areas will all be monitored to track the park's continued recovery.
A famed alpine national park appears to be on the mend after a brumby cull, but some still question the process taken to control the population.
Surveys across the Kosciuszko National Park estimate the wild horse population has been slashed to between 1579 and 5639 in little more than a year.
It puts park operators on track to hit a mandated target of 3000 feral horses over nearly one-third of the park by mid-2027.
Before-and-after images from the park show reduced bare ground and increased vegetation coverage, along with less soil damage and trampling of stream banks.
But Animal Justice Party MP Emma Hurst, who chaired a parliamentary inquiry into the aerial shooting of brumbies, said the data supported previous claims the population had been overstated.
"The last population estimate was between 17,000 and 21,700 horses, but now the park could have around 1500 horses left after the removal of 8954 horses," she told AAP.
"Aerial shooting is extremely cruel and unjustified and - given there is now a recognition that the number of horses in the park were never anywhere near as high as the government claimed - it should be taken off the table entirely."
The Australian Brumby Alliance also questioned the data and said it didn't correlate with what they had seen on the ground.
Culling should stop if the population was so low.
"The ABA calls on the government and Parks NSW to cease all trapping and shooting and work with the community to build a plan that is well-informed and involves experienced locals who have been working with the brumbies for many years," president Nikki Alberts told AAP.
Aerial brumby shooting resumed in NSW under the state Labor government in November 2023.
About 6000 have been clipped since to progress towards the population targets.
The headway was welcomed by the Invasive Species Council, who said the declining population showed genuine momentum towards protecting the park.
"We're finally seeing a turning point," chief executive Jack Gough said.
"Fewer hard-hooved feral animals trampling the fragile alpine environment means more native species returning, more delicate wetlands recovering and more hope for one of Australia's most vulnerable national parks."
The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service's methods produced estimates of between 1579 and 4007 horses, and between 2131 and 5639 horses, each with a 95 per cent confidence rating.
The wildlife service is not expected to shoot any more brumbies in the area and it will maintain the 3000-horse population from mid-2027.
Last week, parliament debated repealing the Kosciuszko Wild Horse Heritage Act 2018, introduced by the Nationals to protect the "heritage value" of the brumby population and shape the current population targets.
Mr Gough pointed out no MPs had spoken against the proposal.
Water quality, threatened species and sensitive areas will all be monitored to track the park's continued recovery.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
West Australian
4 hours ago
- West Australian
What happens when you go toe-to-toe with a 'monster'
Good luck going toe-to-toe with a "monster". Jai Opetaia's most recent victim has offered a chilling warning to the Australian's Italian title challenger as he prepares for his own ring return. David Nyika, New Zealand's former Olympic silver medallist and flag bearer, was humbled in a furious Gold Coast slugfest that left him bloodied and sprawled on the canvas in January. The 29-year-old (10-1) will return to the ring against countryman Nik Charalampous (23-6-2) on the Paul Gallen-Sonny Bill Williams card in Sydney on July 16. In a cautious return from concussion, Nyika is yet to complete heavy sparring but is confident and reflective after those ferocious four rounds with the IBF and The Ring cruiserweight champion. "I had my fingers crossed for rounds six, seven, eight ... predicting a later stoppage because I knew he was going to be an absolute monster for four to six rounds," Nyika told AAP. "I was just trying to be sensible, but not doing a great job of it. "The old saying, everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face ... but for me, I got buzzed right off the bell by a head clash. "He's the man and the guy to beat and nothing changes - I still want to knock his head off the block. "It was good to get a full re-set, but I'm back now, A-OK and putting a target on July 16." Opetaia (27-0) faces the unbeaten Claudio Squeo (17-0) on the Gold Coast on Sunday. He hopes a blockbuster unification clash with Gilberto Ramirez in Las Vegas later this year is next. The Australian is wary, though, not expecting Squeo to heed Nyika's warning despite only two of Opetaia's last eight fights going beyond six rounds. "He's dangerous; there's no mystery to what this guy's going to try to do," Opetaia said. "(He will) walk forward and try to take my head off. "He's been icing people, knocking them out cold. His game plan will be to go forward and throw bombs, because he obviously can't box with me. "It's serious - for a world title - so in no way am I taking it lightly." The pair faced off for the first time on Wednesday on the Gold Coast and will complete public workouts at Pacific Fair shopping centre on Thursday night. The Convention Centre card also features Brisbane-based Irish light heavyweight world title prospect Conor Wallace, rejuvenated super welterweight Ben Mahoney, and entertaining Paris Olympic heavyweight Teremoana Teremoana.
The Advertiser
11 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Animal advocates shoot down bill for enabling 'yahoos'
Environmentalists have opened fire on a bill which could pay recreational hunters for killing invasive pests, describing the plan as enabling a "fringe minority of men" to let loose. A bill before NSW parliament aims to establish a Conservation Hunting Authority, with debate in the upper house taking place on Wednesday. It would better enable "conservation hunting" on private and public land to control invasive animals, Shooters, Fishers and Farmers MP Robert Borsak told parliament. It would also recognise hunting as a cultural activity with social and economic benefits. "It is about responsible conservation, ethical hunting and ensuring that our public lands are managed in a way that benefits everyone." The proposed plan would introduce bounties for killing foxes, cats and feral pigs, which the authority could oversee, the MP explained. But Animal Justice Party MP Emma Hurst described those partaking in such activities as a bunch of "yahoos". "Recreational hunting is not about conservation," she said on Wednesday. "This is a fringe minority of people in our society, predominantly men, who like to kill animals for so-called fun. It is a form of dangerous violence. "Allowing yahoos with very limited training or experience to go out and shoot animals creates an unacceptable animal welfare risk." Biodiversity Council director James Trezise said co-ordinated baiting and trapping as well as aerial culls are more effective at large-scale population reduction. "Whilst recreational hunting is a perfectly valid hobby, it isn't an effective tool for invasive species management." Victoria and the Northern Territory have well-regulated public land hunting programs which have delivered positive pest management results, Mr Borsak added. The proposed hunting authority would comprise eight members, half of whom would be nominated by "prescribed hunting organisations". It would represent the interests of licensed hunters, liaise on land management and make recommendations to ministers on game and feral animal management. A new licence would be created for conservation hunters, aimed at training them in the use of night-vision technology and infrared scopes and allowing them to use suppressors on rifles. Environment Minister Penny Sharpe defended the government's approach in trying to cull feral animal populations by any means necessary. "Invasive species are one of the largest harms that occur to nature and to our ecosystems across our state - it is worth billions of dollars of harm," she told parliament. "This is not going to solve our invasive species problem... but having more people with their shoulder to the wheel being in a position to take out feral animals wherever they are ... is something that just helps." Environmentalists have opened fire on a bill which could pay recreational hunters for killing invasive pests, describing the plan as enabling a "fringe minority of men" to let loose. A bill before NSW parliament aims to establish a Conservation Hunting Authority, with debate in the upper house taking place on Wednesday. It would better enable "conservation hunting" on private and public land to control invasive animals, Shooters, Fishers and Farmers MP Robert Borsak told parliament. It would also recognise hunting as a cultural activity with social and economic benefits. "It is about responsible conservation, ethical hunting and ensuring that our public lands are managed in a way that benefits everyone." The proposed plan would introduce bounties for killing foxes, cats and feral pigs, which the authority could oversee, the MP explained. But Animal Justice Party MP Emma Hurst described those partaking in such activities as a bunch of "yahoos". "Recreational hunting is not about conservation," she said on Wednesday. "This is a fringe minority of people in our society, predominantly men, who like to kill animals for so-called fun. It is a form of dangerous violence. "Allowing yahoos with very limited training or experience to go out and shoot animals creates an unacceptable animal welfare risk." Biodiversity Council director James Trezise said co-ordinated baiting and trapping as well as aerial culls are more effective at large-scale population reduction. "Whilst recreational hunting is a perfectly valid hobby, it isn't an effective tool for invasive species management." Victoria and the Northern Territory have well-regulated public land hunting programs which have delivered positive pest management results, Mr Borsak added. The proposed hunting authority would comprise eight members, half of whom would be nominated by "prescribed hunting organisations". It would represent the interests of licensed hunters, liaise on land management and make recommendations to ministers on game and feral animal management. A new licence would be created for conservation hunters, aimed at training them in the use of night-vision technology and infrared scopes and allowing them to use suppressors on rifles. Environment Minister Penny Sharpe defended the government's approach in trying to cull feral animal populations by any means necessary. "Invasive species are one of the largest harms that occur to nature and to our ecosystems across our state - it is worth billions of dollars of harm," she told parliament. "This is not going to solve our invasive species problem... but having more people with their shoulder to the wheel being in a position to take out feral animals wherever they are ... is something that just helps." Environmentalists have opened fire on a bill which could pay recreational hunters for killing invasive pests, describing the plan as enabling a "fringe minority of men" to let loose. A bill before NSW parliament aims to establish a Conservation Hunting Authority, with debate in the upper house taking place on Wednesday. It would better enable "conservation hunting" on private and public land to control invasive animals, Shooters, Fishers and Farmers MP Robert Borsak told parliament. It would also recognise hunting as a cultural activity with social and economic benefits. "It is about responsible conservation, ethical hunting and ensuring that our public lands are managed in a way that benefits everyone." The proposed plan would introduce bounties for killing foxes, cats and feral pigs, which the authority could oversee, the MP explained. But Animal Justice Party MP Emma Hurst described those partaking in such activities as a bunch of "yahoos". "Recreational hunting is not about conservation," she said on Wednesday. "This is a fringe minority of people in our society, predominantly men, who like to kill animals for so-called fun. It is a form of dangerous violence. "Allowing yahoos with very limited training or experience to go out and shoot animals creates an unacceptable animal welfare risk." Biodiversity Council director James Trezise said co-ordinated baiting and trapping as well as aerial culls are more effective at large-scale population reduction. "Whilst recreational hunting is a perfectly valid hobby, it isn't an effective tool for invasive species management." Victoria and the Northern Territory have well-regulated public land hunting programs which have delivered positive pest management results, Mr Borsak added. The proposed hunting authority would comprise eight members, half of whom would be nominated by "prescribed hunting organisations". It would represent the interests of licensed hunters, liaise on land management and make recommendations to ministers on game and feral animal management. A new licence would be created for conservation hunters, aimed at training them in the use of night-vision technology and infrared scopes and allowing them to use suppressors on rifles. Environment Minister Penny Sharpe defended the government's approach in trying to cull feral animal populations by any means necessary. "Invasive species are one of the largest harms that occur to nature and to our ecosystems across our state - it is worth billions of dollars of harm," she told parliament. "This is not going to solve our invasive species problem... but having more people with their shoulder to the wheel being in a position to take out feral animals wherever they are ... is something that just helps." Environmentalists have opened fire on a bill which could pay recreational hunters for killing invasive pests, describing the plan as enabling a "fringe minority of men" to let loose. A bill before NSW parliament aims to establish a Conservation Hunting Authority, with debate in the upper house taking place on Wednesday. It would better enable "conservation hunting" on private and public land to control invasive animals, Shooters, Fishers and Farmers MP Robert Borsak told parliament. It would also recognise hunting as a cultural activity with social and economic benefits. "It is about responsible conservation, ethical hunting and ensuring that our public lands are managed in a way that benefits everyone." The proposed plan would introduce bounties for killing foxes, cats and feral pigs, which the authority could oversee, the MP explained. But Animal Justice Party MP Emma Hurst described those partaking in such activities as a bunch of "yahoos". "Recreational hunting is not about conservation," she said on Wednesday. "This is a fringe minority of people in our society, predominantly men, who like to kill animals for so-called fun. It is a form of dangerous violence. "Allowing yahoos with very limited training or experience to go out and shoot animals creates an unacceptable animal welfare risk." Biodiversity Council director James Trezise said co-ordinated baiting and trapping as well as aerial culls are more effective at large-scale population reduction. "Whilst recreational hunting is a perfectly valid hobby, it isn't an effective tool for invasive species management." Victoria and the Northern Territory have well-regulated public land hunting programs which have delivered positive pest management results, Mr Borsak added. The proposed hunting authority would comprise eight members, half of whom would be nominated by "prescribed hunting organisations". It would represent the interests of licensed hunters, liaise on land management and make recommendations to ministers on game and feral animal management. A new licence would be created for conservation hunters, aimed at training them in the use of night-vision technology and infrared scopes and allowing them to use suppressors on rifles. Environment Minister Penny Sharpe defended the government's approach in trying to cull feral animal populations by any means necessary. "Invasive species are one of the largest harms that occur to nature and to our ecosystems across our state - it is worth billions of dollars of harm," she told parliament. "This is not going to solve our invasive species problem... but having more people with their shoulder to the wheel being in a position to take out feral animals wherever they are ... is something that just helps."
The Age
12 hours ago
- The Age
Blind cricket at the Brisbane 2032 Paralympics? Don't rule it out
A push for blind cricket to be included in the Brisbane 2032 Paralympics is gaining momentum, with International Paralympic Committee president Andrew Parsons confirming a gold medal match at the Gabba is a possibility should the sport be approved. Australia's greatest off-spinner, Nathan Lyon, put the issue on the agenda last year, saying he wanted the country's best blind cricketers to get the chance to compete at a home Paralympics. '[Cricket] is now part of the Olympics, I think it would be pretty special for not just Australia but cricket worldwide if they were able to combine it into the Paralympics,' Lyon told AAP. 'It would open up a lot of things and be pretty special for world cricket ... I think it's pretty silly that it's not [in the Paralympics too].' With cricket on the Olympic program for LA 2028, Cricket Australia and Paralympics Australia are supportive of a potential bid to include blind cricket at Brisbane 2032. The sport was first played in Australia in 1922. The list of sports for Brisbane 2032 won't be finalised until next year, but Parsons said blind cricket would be seriously considered, provided it met certain criteria. 'We are receiving applications from all international federations, so it's still open,' Parsons said after announcing Nine Entertainment had secured exclusive broadcast rights for the 2026 Winter Paralympics in Milano Cortina. 'I cannot say at this moment whether the ICC [International Cricket Council] has made an application or not. We have some criteria; like number of countries, continents and regions [it is played in]. It needs to be a global sport. It cannot only be an Australian sport. The appeal here has to be strong.
