The Australian Brumby Alliance (ABA) is appalled at the decision by Minister Sharpe to amend the Wild Horse Management Plan and overturn the NSW ban on aerial shooting of wild horses. In the wake of this decision, the ABA calls on Minister Sharpe to commit to a balanced approach to management, including a strengthened commitment to passive trapping and rehoming as the most humane management method.

“Aerial culling was banned because evidence from Guy Fawkes National Park massacre and other locations showed it was a cruel and imprecise way to manage Brumby numbers” said Jill Pickering, President of the ABA. “As an animal loving nation, it’s a very dark day when we lower standards on animal cruelty issues.”

The ABA supports a targeted approaches to management of Brumby numbers are needed particularly in fragile areas, and notes that the population has always been managed in some way. However the ABA believes that fertility control, passive trapping and rehoming are/is the most humane method of management. If implemented consistently, modelling shows this is sufficient to effectively manage numbers to safe levels over the long term in Retention zones, consistent with the NSW Wild Horse Act.

“We implore Minister Sharpe to strengthen commitment to and resourcing of passive trapping and rehoming as the preferred method of population management, reserving lethal methods to high density areas and designated fragile zones identified in the NSW Wild Horse Act. Working closely with experienced horse communities will reduce conflict and facilitate rehoming.” Thousands of fabulous, rehomed Brumbies across the country are testimony to the trainability and viability of Brumby rehoming as a positive outcome. “These horses are unique, highly trainable and sentient creatures who can have wonderful futures. They deserve better than being left to die an agonising death peppered full of bullets.” Ms Pickering said. The ABA also highlights the mental health impact of lethal heritage Brumby management on rural communities. “High country people who love and value these iconic horses are already facing the horror and grief of wild horses being shot and left to rot beside waterways and walking tracks in Victorian and NSW National Parks” she said. “The emotional toll on many Australians of this is enormous”.

Especially now that we find decades of ACT zero horse tolerance has not helped the Corroboree frogs. We urge the minister to consider ALL threats to native species, commence on-ground counts/data trends to see whether, or not, killing horses actually help native species as frequently claimed.

The ABA also notes many of horse shootings have been in Retention zones that the current Plan states can tolerate safe Brumby numbers. We urge the Minister to ensure horse retention areas are not disturbed.

“The Brumbies have been co-existing with native species for nearly 200 years” Ms Pickering said. “We owe it to them and to those who value their social heritage to horses humanely”.

The NSW Minns government is considering the reintroduction of aerial shooting of brumbies, this is deeply troubling and demands action.

Aerial shooting of brumbies has been banned in NSW since 2000 due to its inhumane nature. This method inflicts prolonged suffering on the animals, with multiple reports and evidence proving that the horses endure hours of agony after being shot.

Currently, there is an ongoing consultation regarding this issue, and we implore you to join us in opposing the reintroduction of aerial shooting. The government needs to know that the people of NSW do not support this cruel action.

Speak up for the brumbies by making a submission!

Below is a guide to issues that could be raised in your submission:

Flawed Survey Methodology: An independent report by biostatistician Claire Galea has exposed significant flaws in the survey methodology used to count the number of brumbies. The method’s inadequacies are underscored by the fact that the numbers from 2014 and 2019 were simply combined due to insufficient horse sightings. Such manipulation raises serious questions about the validity of the reported numbers.
Implausible Population Estimates: The population modeling techniques employed have consistently yielded implausible increases in population estimates. This casts doubt on the accuracy and reliability of the data being used to justify the aerial shooting proposal.
Call for Urgent and Independent Recount: Given the discrepancies and doubts surrounding the brumby population count, it is imperative that an independent and urgent recount of the horse numbers is conducted. Such an unbiased evaluation is essential to inform any decisions related to the brumby population management.
Inhumanity of Aerial Shooting: Aerial shooting is a ruthless and inhumane method of managing the brumby population. Its heartless approach to managing these animals, and it reflects poorly on any government that would consider such a course of action.

You have the option to make a written submission or fill in an online survey.

Animal Justice Party NSW

A BRUMBY foal was born on Save The Brumbies (STB) Open Day at the New England Brumby Sanctuary on Saturday 18 September, where the charity’s Bellingen-based founder Jan Carter welcomed visitors from far and wide.

“The highlight of the day was the early morning birth of a new foal and everyone gathered around to admire our pretty new little filly,” Jan told News Of The Area.

“For the youngsters to have their first glimpse of a Brumby foal they certainly learnt about the need to protect and preserve our brumby heritage.”

Seizing the opportunity of involving everyone present on the day, Jan suggested a naming competition.

“Our ‘Name the new foal’ ticket drawn out was STB Breeze, very apt as the day, although fine and sunny, was extremely windy and volunteers were kept busy, chasing leaflets all over the place,” she said.

The purpose of the day was to show and tell what STB’s work involves and how people can participate.

For the youngsters there were pony rides, and a chance to feed the ponies carrots, brush and groom them.

While this was going on, Sanctuary Maintenance Manager Isaiah Grennan conducted tours of the Sanctuary around the 1500-acre property.

“Visitors were delighted to see mobs of our Brumbies grazing peacefully in the paddocks – until the ute got bogged.

“Visitors tramped back to where the action was, ready and hungry for a BBQ lunch.

“Chefs Jeffrey Carter and Murray Hicks did a great job of feeding everyone.”

A talk was then given about the aims and ideals of Save the Brumbies, the background and history of the tax-deductible charity and people were directed to the information table to take home various leaflets about STB’s work.

“Our VIP Sponsorship program helps us to care for injured and/or older horses not suitable for adoption and people are invited to choose their brumby and be involved.

“We care for every brumby that we rescue.”

STB’s expert resident horse handler, Lucy Hicks, gave a show in the training yards where she demonstrated the first touch and handling of a young colt.

This was particularly interesting as STB Solo only has one eye; he was born that way and his initial handling and acceptance of his halter was an important lesson for his future life.

Original Article by: News of the Area.

Parks Victoria intend to shoot all the Brumbies in KNP commencing 9th June despite people waiting to rehome these horses; descendants of our war horses who died for us in wars.

Please read the link to the Australian Brumby Alliance press release and voice your comments to the Victorian Government.

ABA Press release attached: Victorian Brumbies to be shot early June 2022 – 16-5-22 – Press Release Here

It is Springtime, when new life fills the Alpine National Park with joy and excitement. Wild horses inhabit the park, and currently mares are pregnant, have given birth or about to, they are incredibly vulnerable. There are foals in the National Park who are innocent, weeks old and suckling of their mother who is about to be shot in the head by contract shooters hired by Parks Victoria.

Parks Victoria today announced via email that they will commence shooting of horses in the Alpine National Park. They gave no details of the shoot, the method, how many, what the evidence was, nor was there any community consultation period.

Standard Operating Procedure for Shooting of Feral Horses states:
(Aerial shooting) To minimise the animal welfare implications of leaving dependent foals to die a slow death from starvation, it is preferable not to run aerial shooting programs when mares have dependent young at foot. i
(Ground Shooting) The optimal period for ground shooting is during dry seasons or droughts, when many groups of horses are forced to congregate around areas with limited access to water and feed.ii
Parks Victoria will shoot during Spring time when mares have foals at foot in direct contravention of the Standard Operating Procedures.

Parks Victoria have routinely operated under a code of secrecy and flawed information to justify their killing campaigns. The CSIRO states: Contemporary horse management requires full public transparency.iii Parks Victoria rely on information to justify their reasons for killing wild horses, however, the result of FOI requests by the ABA have proven that these documents do not exist.

ABA requested (late 2020) under PV’s FOI process Location details of each high conservation priority location and criteria that PV used to define each highconservation priority location including classifications of each species expected to benefit from shooting feral horses in these areas
PV FOI Reply…
No documents were found as requested
ABA requested (late 2020) under PV’s FOI process Copies of PV annual end of year reports as stated in their 2018-2021 plan their commitment to end of year reports late 2020.
PV FOI Reply…
No documents were found as requested.
ABA requested (late 2020) under PV’s FOI process A copy of the pre shooting baseline data that Parks Victoria will use to compare with the post shooting data to assess the effectiveness of the shooting of feral horses considered essential to be conducted in these sensitive areas Parks Victoria have identified. Such pre and post shooting data is essential for Parks Victoria’s quality control measures and provide accountability to this taxpayer funded shooting exercise.
PV FOI Reply…
After making enquiries, there are no such documents meeting the terms of your request in
existence.
Parks Victoria is a state funded agency who uses tax payer money to conduct these killings. Ministerial oversight is needed to justify the expenditure of tax-payer dollars, yet PVcontinue to evade scrutiny and transparency and operate as a state funded killing entity.

The ABA is asking everyone to hold Parks Victoria to account for their actions and to #StopTheShoot. To justify their reasons for the shoot, to provide details and to work with local Brumby support groups to increase rehoming options.

Quote attributed to Jill Pickering, President of the ABA

The ABA has long been advocating for Parks Victoria to work with Brumby support
agencies to find humane and long-lasting rehoming options for the Brumbies.