Latest news with #KosciuszkoWildHorseHeritageAct2018
Epoch Times
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Epoch Times
Kosciuszko ‘Turning Point' as an Estimated 9,000 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 1,579 and 5,639 in little more than a year. It puts park operators on track to hit a mandated target of 3,000 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. Related Stories 4/26/2024 11/7/2023 'The last population estimate was between 17,000 and 21,700 horses, but now the park could have around 1,500 horses left after the removal of 8,954 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 (ABA) 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 6,000 have since been clipped to progress towards the population targets. The headway was welcomed by the Invasive Species Council, which 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 1,579 and 4,007 horses, and between 2,131 and 5,639 horses, each with a 95 percent confidence rating. The wildlife service is not expected to shoot any more brumbies in the area, and it will maintain the 3,000-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. Gough pointed out that 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.
The Advertiser
21-05-2025
- Politics
- The Advertiser
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.
The Advertiser
21-05-2025
- Politics
- The Advertiser
Kosciuszko mending after brumby cull slashes population
A famed alpine national park appears to be on the mend, as authorities make tidy progress controlling its brumby population. Surveys across the Kosciuszko National Park estimate the brumby population has been slashed from more than 12,000 to between 1579 and 5639 in just a year. It puts the NSW government on track to hit a mandated target of 3000 feral horses over nearly one-third of the park by mid-2027. Images from the park show reduced bare ground and increased vegetation coverage along with less soil damage and trampling of stream banks. Aerial brumby shooting resumed in NSW under the state Labor government in November 2023, with around 6000 believed to have been clipped since to progress towards the population targets. The progress has been welcomed by the Invasive Species Council, who said the trend down showed genuine momentum towards protecting the park. "We're finally seeing a turning point … 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," CEO Jack Gough said. "'Kosciuszko is home to threatened species like the northern corroboree frog, broad-toothed rat and critically endangered alpine she-oak skink – all of which suffer when feral horses degrade their habitat. Every delay puts this more at risk." The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service trialled three different survey methods in their population count, including standard distance and mark-recapture distance sampling across 39 per cent of the park. Those two methods produced estimates of between 1579 and 4007 horses, and between 2131 and 5639 horses, each with a 95 per cent confidence rating. The NPWS is not expected to shoot any more brumbies in the area and it will maintain the 3000-horse population from mid-2027. NSW Environment Minister Penny Sharpe told a budget estimates hearing earlier in March "to actually have them (brumbies) shot from helicopters is not needed anymore". Last week, parliament debated repealing the Kosciuszko Wild Horse Heritage Act 2018, which protects the "heritage value" of the brumby population and shaped the current population targets. Mr Gough pointed out no MPs had spoken against the proposal. "The ridiculous (former Deputy Premier John) Barilaro law was never based on science - it was a political stunt that protects a population of destructive feral horses," he said. "We now need Premier (Chris) Minns to step up and finish the job - by removing a law that protects a feral animal over native species in a national park." 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, as authorities make tidy progress controlling its brumby population. Surveys across the Kosciuszko National Park estimate the brumby population has been slashed from more than 12,000 to between 1579 and 5639 in just a year. It puts the NSW government on track to hit a mandated target of 3000 feral horses over nearly one-third of the park by mid-2027. Images from the park show reduced bare ground and increased vegetation coverage along with less soil damage and trampling of stream banks. Aerial brumby shooting resumed in NSW under the state Labor government in November 2023, with around 6000 believed to have been clipped since to progress towards the population targets. The progress has been welcomed by the Invasive Species Council, who said the trend down showed genuine momentum towards protecting the park. "We're finally seeing a turning point … 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," CEO Jack Gough said. "'Kosciuszko is home to threatened species like the northern corroboree frog, broad-toothed rat and critically endangered alpine she-oak skink – all of which suffer when feral horses degrade their habitat. Every delay puts this more at risk." The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service trialled three different survey methods in their population count, including standard distance and mark-recapture distance sampling across 39 per cent of the park. Those two methods produced estimates of between 1579 and 4007 horses, and between 2131 and 5639 horses, each with a 95 per cent confidence rating. The NPWS is not expected to shoot any more brumbies in the area and it will maintain the 3000-horse population from mid-2027. NSW Environment Minister Penny Sharpe told a budget estimates hearing earlier in March "to actually have them (brumbies) shot from helicopters is not needed anymore". Last week, parliament debated repealing the Kosciuszko Wild Horse Heritage Act 2018, which protects the "heritage value" of the brumby population and shaped the current population targets. Mr Gough pointed out no MPs had spoken against the proposal. "The ridiculous (former Deputy Premier John) Barilaro law was never based on science - it was a political stunt that protects a population of destructive feral horses," he said. "We now need Premier (Chris) Minns to step up and finish the job - by removing a law that protects a feral animal over native species in a national park." 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, as authorities make tidy progress controlling its brumby population. Surveys across the Kosciuszko National Park estimate the brumby population has been slashed from more than 12,000 to between 1579 and 5639 in just a year. It puts the NSW government on track to hit a mandated target of 3000 feral horses over nearly one-third of the park by mid-2027. Images from the park show reduced bare ground and increased vegetation coverage along with less soil damage and trampling of stream banks. Aerial brumby shooting resumed in NSW under the state Labor government in November 2023, with around 6000 believed to have been clipped since to progress towards the population targets. The progress has been welcomed by the Invasive Species Council, who said the trend down showed genuine momentum towards protecting the park. "We're finally seeing a turning point … 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," CEO Jack Gough said. "'Kosciuszko is home to threatened species like the northern corroboree frog, broad-toothed rat and critically endangered alpine she-oak skink – all of which suffer when feral horses degrade their habitat. Every delay puts this more at risk." The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service trialled three different survey methods in their population count, including standard distance and mark-recapture distance sampling across 39 per cent of the park. Those two methods produced estimates of between 1579 and 4007 horses, and between 2131 and 5639 horses, each with a 95 per cent confidence rating. The NPWS is not expected to shoot any more brumbies in the area and it will maintain the 3000-horse population from mid-2027. NSW Environment Minister Penny Sharpe told a budget estimates hearing earlier in March "to actually have them (brumbies) shot from helicopters is not needed anymore". Last week, parliament debated repealing the Kosciuszko Wild Horse Heritage Act 2018, which protects the "heritage value" of the brumby population and shaped the current population targets. Mr Gough pointed out no MPs had spoken against the proposal. "The ridiculous (former Deputy Premier John) Barilaro law was never based on science - it was a political stunt that protects a population of destructive feral horses," he said. "We now need Premier (Chris) Minns to step up and finish the job - by removing a law that protects a feral animal over native species in a national park." 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, as authorities make tidy progress controlling its brumby population. Surveys across the Kosciuszko National Park estimate the brumby population has been slashed from more than 12,000 to between 1579 and 5639 in just a year. It puts the NSW government on track to hit a mandated target of 3000 feral horses over nearly one-third of the park by mid-2027. Images from the park show reduced bare ground and increased vegetation coverage along with less soil damage and trampling of stream banks. Aerial brumby shooting resumed in NSW under the state Labor government in November 2023, with around 6000 believed to have been clipped since to progress towards the population targets. The progress has been welcomed by the Invasive Species Council, who said the trend down showed genuine momentum towards protecting the park. "We're finally seeing a turning point … 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," CEO Jack Gough said. "'Kosciuszko is home to threatened species like the northern corroboree frog, broad-toothed rat and critically endangered alpine she-oak skink – all of which suffer when feral horses degrade their habitat. Every delay puts this more at risk." The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service trialled three different survey methods in their population count, including standard distance and mark-recapture distance sampling across 39 per cent of the park. Those two methods produced estimates of between 1579 and 4007 horses, and between 2131 and 5639 horses, each with a 95 per cent confidence rating. The NPWS is not expected to shoot any more brumbies in the area and it will maintain the 3000-horse population from mid-2027. NSW Environment Minister Penny Sharpe told a budget estimates hearing earlier in March "to actually have them (brumbies) shot from helicopters is not needed anymore". Last week, parliament debated repealing the Kosciuszko Wild Horse Heritage Act 2018, which protects the "heritage value" of the brumby population and shaped the current population targets. Mr Gough pointed out no MPs had spoken against the proposal. "The ridiculous (former Deputy Premier John) Barilaro law was never based on science - it was a political stunt that protects a population of destructive feral horses," he said. "We now need Premier (Chris) Minns to step up and finish the job - by removing a law that protects a feral animal over native species in a national park." Water quality, threatened species and sensitive areas will all be monitored to track the park's continued recovery.
West Australian
20-05-2025
- Politics
- West Australian
Kosciuszko mending after brumby cull slashes population
A famed alpine national park appears to be on the mend, as authorities make tidy progress controlling its brumby population. Surveys across the Kosciuszko National Park estimate the brumby population has been slashed from more than 12,000 to between 1579 and 5639 in just a year. It puts the NSW government on track to hit a mandated target of 3000 feral horses over nearly one-third of the park by mid-2027. Images from the park show reduced bare ground and increased vegetation coverage along with less soil damage and trampling of stream banks. Aerial brumby shooting resumed in NSW under the state Labor government in November 2023, with around 6000 believed to have been clipped since to progress towards the population targets. The progress has been welcomed by the Invasive Species Council, who said the trend down showed genuine momentum towards protecting the park. "We're finally seeing a turning point … 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," CEO Jack Gough said. "'Kosciuszko is home to threatened species like the northern corroboree frog, broad-toothed rat and critically endangered alpine she-oak skink – all of which suffer when feral horses degrade their habitat. Every delay puts this more at risk." The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service trialled three different survey methods in their population count, including standard distance and mark-recapture distance sampling across 39 per cent of the park. Those two methods produced estimates of between 1579 and 4007 horses, and between 2131 and 5639 horses, each with a 95 per cent confidence rating. The NPWS is not expected to shoot any more brumbies in the area and it will maintain the 3000-horse population from mid-2027. NSW Environment Minister Penny Sharpe told a budget estimates hearing earlier in March "to actually have them (brumbies) shot from helicopters is not needed anymore". Last week, parliament debated repealing the Kosciuszko Wild Horse Heritage Act 2018, which protects the "heritage value" of the brumby population and shaped the current population targets. Mr Gough pointed out no MPs had spoken against the proposal. "The ridiculous (former Deputy Premier John) Barilaro law was never based on science - it was a political stunt that protects a population of destructive feral horses," he said. "We now need Premier (Chris) Minns to step up and finish the job - by removing a law that protects a feral animal over native species in a national park." Water quality, threatened species and sensitive areas will all be monitored to track the park's continued recovery.
Perth Now
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Perth Now
Kosciuszko mending after brumby cull slashes population
A famed alpine national park appears to be on the mend, as authorities make tidy progress controlling its brumby population. Surveys across the Kosciuszko National Park estimate the brumby population has been slashed from more than 12,000 to between 1579 and 5639 in just a year. It puts the NSW government on track to hit a mandated target of 3000 feral horses over nearly one-third of the park by mid-2027. Images from the park show reduced bare ground and increased vegetation coverage along with less soil damage and trampling of stream banks. Aerial brumby shooting resumed in NSW under the state Labor government in November 2023, with around 6000 believed to have been clipped since to progress towards the population targets. The progress has been welcomed by the Invasive Species Council, who said the trend down showed genuine momentum towards protecting the park. "We're finally seeing a turning point … 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," CEO Jack Gough said. "'Kosciuszko is home to threatened species like the northern corroboree frog, broad-toothed rat and critically endangered alpine she-oak skink – all of which suffer when feral horses degrade their habitat. Every delay puts this more at risk." The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service trialled three different survey methods in their population count, including standard distance and mark-recapture distance sampling across 39 per cent of the park. Those two methods produced estimates of between 1579 and 4007 horses, and between 2131 and 5639 horses, each with a 95 per cent confidence rating. The NPWS is not expected to shoot any more brumbies in the area and it will maintain the 3000-horse population from mid-2027. NSW Environment Minister Penny Sharpe told a budget estimates hearing earlier in March "to actually have them (brumbies) shot from helicopters is not needed anymore". Last week, parliament debated repealing the Kosciuszko Wild Horse Heritage Act 2018, which protects the "heritage value" of the brumby population and shaped the current population targets. Mr Gough pointed out no MPs had spoken against the proposal. "The ridiculous (former Deputy Premier John) Barilaro law was never based on science - it was a political stunt that protects a population of destructive feral horses," he said. "We now need Premier (Chris) Minns to step up and finish the job - by removing a law that protects a feral animal over native species in a national park." Water quality, threatened species and sensitive areas will all be monitored to track the park's continued recovery.
