Aerial shooting unbanned as brumby culling method
Aerial shooting is being re-introduced as a means to control the number of brumbies in Kosciuszko National Park. It's been banned in New South Wales for more than two decades. But the government says it's necessary because the area's entire ecosystem is under threat.
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00:00 A control method with a controversial past is back on the table.
00:06 By law, feral horse numbers in Kosciuszko National Park are meant to be reduced from
00:11 more than 18,000 to 3,000 by 2027.
00:15 So aerial shooting, which was banned in the year 2000, will once again be allowed.
00:20 "The reality is that their population over the last decade or so has exploded.
00:25 There are too many horses in the park."
00:27 Re-homing, trapping and ground shooting are some of the methods already available.
00:31 The government says those measures haven't been enough to protect the park's fragile
00:35 alpine ecosystem.
00:36 "Probably around 12 species are directly impacted by the horses."
00:42 The issue was opened to public consultation and aerial shooting was supported by the majority
00:47 of submissions.
00:48 It was also backed by a recent Senate inquiry.
00:50 "This is a really momentous day.
00:53 We have had campaigns for over 10 years to get the government to take action on what
00:58 has been a creeping but out of control environmental disaster in Kosciuszko National Park."
01:05 Aerial shooting was outlawed in New South Wales after public outcry over the culling
01:09 of hundreds of horses in the state's north.
01:12 In 2018, the heritage value of the species was recognised in laws championed by then
01:17 Deputy Premier John Barilaro.
01:20 And there are those still vehemently opposed to aerial shooting.
01:24 "We will find shatter-time quarters, bullets everywhere and the odd horse still alive."
01:30 But those who pushed for this change say it puts ecology over emotion.
01:34 "This is the most effective and most humane method of removing the feral horses."
01:39 A view that continues to divide opinion.
01:41 [BLANK_AUDIO]