Trapping and rehoming of brumbies begins

[icyfroth]

The trapping and rehoming of feral horses in the Kosciuszko National Park has resumed after the Land and Environment Court dismissed a bid to stop the practice.

The Snowy Mountains Brumby Sustainability and Management Group (SMBSMG) tried to stop brumbies from being trapped and removed from three sensitive areas of the park, but the court upheld a 2008 horse management plan.

The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) Southern Ranges director, Mick Pettitt, said the service was luring brumbies to yards with salt and molasses since May and the first horses were removed this week.

"We actually removed 12 horses yesterday," he said.

"We have got, at this stage, room for 155 horses for rehomers who have put their hand up to take that number of horses.

Read more here 

That's only a fraction of the horses that need to be removed, though. What about the rest?

[davewil1964]

Rule .303?

[rogespeed]

Another modern Austalian historic icon destroyed ....

[davewil1964]

it's not an icon.

It's an introduced feral pest. Just like foxes, rabbits, cane toads.

And 155 taken out of the Alps will be replaced in a year unless they take all the stallions.

[lurker172602]

[ambercat16]

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@lurker172602 wrote:

.....and a hell of a lot more besides

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[rogespeed]

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@davewil1964 wrote:

it's not an icon.

It's an introduced feral pest. Just like foxes, rabbits, cane toads.

And 155 taken out of the Alps will be replaced in a year unless they take all the stallions.

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The numbers of them have made them a pest - sort of like humans in many locations 

Brumbies have been part of that ecology for 140 years - maybe they need culling but they deserve living icon status and preservation 

[davewil1964]

Brumbies have been part of  destroying that ecology for 140 years

Rabbits and foxes have been feral for that long. And probably feral 'domestic' cats.Maybe we should declare them icons as well.

[rogespeed]

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@davewil1964 wrote:

Brumbies have been part of  destroying that ecology for 140 years

Rabbits and foxes have been feral for that long. And probably feral 'domestic' cats.Maybe we should declare them icons as well.

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Those horses are representative animals whose ancestors had a long history of gainful service to early modern Australia including the high country , arguably a recognisable and worthy part of State historic culture , enshrined in poetry and film , and as such a meaningful herd or herds should be allowed to roam free - could even enhance tourism for those who only think in terms of capital gain.

A herd or herds of meaningful numbers would have negligible ecological effect considering the vast area of the high lands - and where they forage they return nutrients to the soil in quantity - so some ecological value. Also in corridors of land that they may frequent they will keep the land clearer and so a bit safer for hikers 

The comparison with nationally widespread feral cats and foxes who feast upon native animals enmass is spurious 

[icyfroth]

I get what you're saying Roges. The Brumbies do share some cultural history with white Australians, and do deserve a place in our hearts.

Still. While they're roaming free, they're destroying the environnemt and habitat of even more deserving creatures, the native wildlife of this continent.

I'm thinking, we could keep the Brumbie breed alive and honour their contribution by holding them in contolled numbers as the 155 that are being rehomed.

Unfortunately, many must be sacrificed, as were their ancestors who were taken off to war, but not brought back.