Aerial Culling of Feral Horses Begins in Australia's Kosciuszko National Park

The New South Wales government aims to reduce the horse population from 17,400 to 3,000 by 2027 to protect native ecosystems.

The New South Wales government has begun aerial shooting of feral horses in Kosciuszko National Park, aiming to reduce the population from around 17,400 to 3,000 by 2027.
The decision follows a successful two-day trial in November where 270 horses were culled without any reported adverse animal welfare events.
Feral horses, or 'brumbies', are considered an invasive species in Australia, posing a threat to local ecosystems due to their grazing and trampling of native plant species.
Other methods of population control, such as trapping and rehoming, have proven ineffective and inhumane, leading to the decision to implement aerial shooting.
The move has been met with both support and opposition, with some arguing the horses are part of Australia's heritage and should be protected, while others emphasize the need to protect native ecosystems.