Independent vet backs Kosciuszko horse cull as humane and safe
An independent vet confirms aerial shooting of feral horses in Kosciuszko is humane, with the median time to unconsciousness being eight seconds.
An independent vet watched 180 horses during July operations in Kosciuszko National Park. 154 were shot and killed.
No horses escaped with non-fatal wounds. The median time between first shot and unconsciousness was eight seconds.
This independent vet review matches two earlier independent reviews from 2023 and 2024. The Invasive Species Council CEO says the findings show aerial shooting is done safely, professionally and humanely.
The cull remains controversial. Opponents have repeatedly taken legal action.
But the NSW Land and Environment Court recently rejected an attempt to stop it. Feral horses have been blamed for damaging alpine vegetation, waterways and habitat.
Threatened native species like the northern corroboree frog and mountain pygmy-possum use this habitat.
- Eight seconds from first shot
- Median time to unconsciousness
- 180 observed, 154 shot and killed
- Horses observed and killed
- 3000 horses in 32 percent of park
- Management plan target
Why it mattersThe independent review may settle the fierce debate about the cull's effect on animal welfare. This gives regulators more confidence to continue managing the ecosystem.
