Finding Homes For Trapped Kosciuszko Wild Horses

The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) has launched a renewed effort to find people in the community who are both willing and able to take wild horses that have been removed from Kosciuszko National Park under the Wild Horse Management Program.

Under the program the NPWS currently traps and removes an average of 300-350 horses per annum from the park. However, the NPWS will have to increase the number removed from the park to over 500 horses per annum following the results of recent aerial surveys of the wild horse population. NPWS spokesman Steve Horsley, said today that to reduce the number of horses that are sent to abattoirs more people need to come forward to help provide homes. “The survey conducted last year estimated there were 4200 horses in Kosciuszko National Park and the population is growing at an estimated 20% annually. “We would very much prefer to see them find useful productive second lives on someone’s property . There are many examples to demonstrate that if the brumbies are managed by experienced horse handlers they can make good riding mounts which have a variety of skills. “A recent forum held at Gundagai by the Victorian Brumby Association and the Australian Brumby Alliance called on the NPWS to advertise for individuals or groups with appropriate facilities and skills who may be able to take more wild horses. “Advertising across the region has begun this week inviting people within the community to take some of these horses,” Mr Horsley said. {sidebar id=3}Mr Horsley invited anyone who may have an interest in taking possession of some of these horses to contact the NPWS office in Jindabyne. For further information on the program and forms required to register an interest in obtaining horses from the program please contact Ranger, Rob Gibbs on 64505577 or email rob.gibbs@environment.nsw.gov.au More information about feral horses in the Australian Alps can be found at the Australian Alps National Parks website.