The New South Wales Environment Minister has asked for the RSPCA to help with an evaluation of the wild horse management plan in the Snowy Mountains, after members of the public discovered dead horses that appeared to have been shot.
Warning: this story contains photos that may distress some people.
Photographs of around 11 dead wild horses at Kiandra in Kosciuszko National Park surfaced on social media earlier this week, prompting the local Monaro MP Nichole Overall to call for an immediate assessment of the implementation of the management plan.
The wild horse management plan was adopted by the NSW Government in 2021 and aims to reduce wild horse numbers in the national park from 14,000 to 3,000 by 2027.
Managed by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), ground shooting is one of the approved methods to remove the animals from the national park.
NPWS said that more than 330 horses have been removed since the plan began but would not say what happened to the animals.
Environment Minister James Griffin said the plan aimed to strike a balance between protecting the environment and the horses' heritage status but that community concerns had prompted him to order a review.
"I have asked for an evaluation of the plan's implementation, with the assistance of RSPCA NSW," he said.
"I will consider the findings of the evaluation once complete."
No warning before shooting
Former regional manager for NPWS in the Snowy Mountains, Ross McKinney, said it was important that the plan was implemented.
"The plan states categorically that ground shooting is part of the plan," he said.
"The plan was compiled after extensive consultation and it was agreed to by all sides."
Brumby advocate Michelle Brown, who does not support the ground shooting of wild horses, said locals were not notified of the apparent shooting at Kiandra.
"There was not one notification to say that they were undertaking a ground cull in Kiandra," she said.
"We do have a lot of photographers and hikers that do go out on early morning hikes before dawn to go and take photos ... yet nobody was notified."
Mr Griffin said NPWS staff would manage the disposal of the dead horses in the park.
"There is a carcass management element of the plan which will be carried out," he said.
"National Parks will continue to engage with the community nearby to ensure that everybody is aware of operations that are happening."
A spokesperson for NPWS said all control measures required to meet the highest possible animal welfare standards "are being met."
"Safety is paramount and all control measures are implemented according to strict operational safety standards," a spokesperson said.
"A statement summarising the outcome of control programs will be made publicly available every six months."
