A committee commissioned to advise the government on feral horses on public land has found the animals pose a serious threat to endangered species.
The Threatened Species Scientific Committee submission says the horses are a known threat to 12 animals including fish, frogs and reptiles.
The report said “We could be looking on the map at a hotspot of extinction that we will regret.
“We need urgent management action to stop that from happening.”
Horses on public land are an emotional issue. Images of horses running free tug at the heartstrings and the debate has been polarising over the years.
Even the greens can’t agree. Some of them want them to be culled and others would prefer they be captured and rehomed.
That last one seems like magical thinking. Turning any wild animal into a domesticated animal is hard and often futile work.
And who is going to do it? There are an estimated 18,000-plus horses in the Kosciuszko National Park alone.
I don’t think there are going to be too many people who could or would take on even one wild horse, let alone the numbers that are out there.
What do you think should happen to brumbies on public land?
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