The aspiration, photo: Mike Bremers
We were pleased to see ACT minister for the environment and heritage Mick Gentleman supporting the efforts of his NSW and Victorian counterparts to manage horse populations in the Australian Alps.
In recent letters to NSW environment minister Matt Kean and Victorian environment Minister Lily D’Ambrosio, Minister Gentleman offered his strongest support to their commitment to control horses in the Australian Alps and encouraged the implementation of effective management plans.
>> Read Minister Gentleman’s letter to Minister Kean
>> Read Minister Gentleman’s letter to Minister D’Ambrosio
The ACT Government has taken a strong stance to prevent horse populations establishing in Namadgi National Park, which adjoins NSW’s Kosciuszko National Park. The large number of horses present in Kosciuszko presents the greatest risk of horses moving into Namadgi.
Recognising the ecosystem impacts the horses could have if they crossed the border, the ACT Government has led the way in horse management with a zero tolerance policy towards the presence of feral horses.
Through early detection and intervention approaches, horse populations have been prevented from establishing in Namadgi.
Investing in a forward-thinking, preventative approach is a win for all parties:
- The sub-alpine wetlands and other habitats aren’t degraded by horse hooves
- Sphagnum bogs which supply water to Canberra and Queanbeyan survive
- Less resources (i.e. time and money) are spent on horse management, freeing up resources for other important conservation efforts (check out the ACT’s efforts to save the critically endangered northern corroboree frog)
- And perhaps most importantly of all, no/very few horses have to be removed.
Great to see a politician who has stepped in early and prevented a feral horse problem from escalating in the ACT’s water catchment. Minister Gentleman’s approach is a model for the other states.
If the ACT still had the 200 horses that were present in the 1960s and culled them back down to 200 every ten years, each time they would have to kill an almost incredible 4,400 horses. It is far better on every count, including animal welfare, that the ACT wild horses have been eliminated.
When it was done, it was highly controversial. Rangers’ children were intimidated at school and spouses were threatened and abused at work. But now, with no horses, we have peace, complete freedom from horse impacts, and no horses being stressed or harmed. Perhaps one day NSW and Victoria will get their feral populations down too, but it will require a resolute politician and determined bureaucracy.