Overview

• The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service has removed 9,036 feral horses from Kosciuszko National Park since November 2021, including 5,969 through aerial shooting.
• Post-cull surveys estimate the remaining wild horse population at between 1,579 and 5,639, meeting the legal requirement to maintain 3,000 horses by 2027.
• Aerial culling has been paused as authorities transition to population stabilization and prepare for trials of reproductive control methods.
• Ecological recovery is evident, with vegetation regrowth, clearer streams, and improved habitats for endangered species such as the broad-toothed rat and corroboree frog.
• The culling program faced significant opposition from animal rights activists and heritage advocates, with incidents of protest including threats to park staff.