Australians are strenuously opposed to Brumbies being shot whether by aerial or ground shooting.  Yesterday we learnt the magnificent palomino stallion MATAGI was shot by NPWS in a retention zone. His mares and family stood around him, waiting for him to rise and lead them away.  There is a suggestion of ground shooging MATAGI yet there was no notice of ground shooting. A dangerous threat to the public. 

Brumbies hold significant cultural and social value for most Australians. Today’s wild-living Brumbies are bloodline descendants of War horsea, and have featured in books and film. Who hasn’t read The Silver Brumby or The Man From Snowy River or seen the film?

The Australian wild living horse, the Brumby has become Iconic and recognized internationally in film and books, with many statues and commemorations erected in their honour in Australia

Australian Brumbies supported soldiers in the Boer War and World War 1.   Australia's Light Horsemen are legendary, a part of our Commonwealth War Effort, and 'Bill the Bastard' was “one of the bravest steeds”.  Brumbies living in the Bogong High Plains have been tested and recognized as having Waler DNA, the same as their forebear the brave War horses who supported our soldiers at Beersheba. 136,000 horses, many Brumbies were mustered and trapped from the Great Alpine Park, and stations and followed Australian soldiers to war. Only one returned to Australia.Link to Anzac.org.au and 88 entries about Light Horsemen and War Horses

https://anzacportal.dva.gov.au/search/content?keys=War%20Horses

Despite  there being significant constituent demand for an end to shooting  wild-living Brumbies, including from  indigenous Australians, State Governments in both New South Wales, Victoria and Canberra, continue to engage in barbaric and cruel shooting sprees of wild living Brumbies fuelled by rhetoric from extremist environmentalists,   based upon “inconclusive” or any evidence that Brumbies harm the environment and native wildlife they have evolved with, symbiotically,  for nearly two centuries.

These shooting sprees, have been grossly cruel leaving many Brumbies with non-lethal single shots to the gut, neck and other parts of the body, dying in a cruel and barbaric manner.

We must find ways to  respectfully conserve surviving wild-living mobs of Brumbies, failing which we tear down not only innocent sentient creatures but the connection  our Light Horsemen had with Brumbies 

At this time, National Parks and Wildlife Service in New South Wales are engaging in the most heinous round of shooting Brumbies. Population Counts have been rigorously questioned, many pointing out the numbers are biologically impossible. Yet, the government plunges ahead as if they believe they are not accountable to the public. There is no transparency. Stakeholders are ignored, nil consultancy, nil explanation.

This attitude is further supported by a non government organisation, Invasive Species Council CEO Jack Gough who believes it is his right to speak for the government. Serious questions are being asked about how much power Jack holds over the government, and why? 

As to the alleged numbers claimed which are biolgically impossible, are thrown around  like confetti, as if it is evidence of "damage", but where is the evidence?  Cherry picked reports about one species with a vague waft of inconclusive Brumby reference.

 There has never been a brumby impact statement prepared by the government about Brumbies, Jack, there is no real evidence that Brumbies cause ANY damage. Yet there is literally a mounting library of evidence of harm to the Park, caused by infrastructure, Hydro 2, damage caused by deforestation, accidental spillages, carcass left to rot in waterways, the Park is overrun with blackberries, all manner of weeds and with removal of Brumbies undergrowth will be booming. And now a new announcement about a massive new tourist infrastrue.

The frog is laughing at you jack, everybody knows the frog is dying because of a fungal disease, the broad toothed rat is impacted by infrastructure, introduced predators like cats and foxes, wildfires and accidental poisoning from commercial rodenticides. Yes Jack, not Brumbies. 

We demand an immediate end to shooting brumbies, ground or aerial, in Kosci National Park, Ideallyj, we demand an investigation into the connections between Invasive Species Council and the decisions made by the NSW Government and its Ministers. 

Brumbies are part of our cultural and social history. You have no right to do what you are doing. 

If you live overseas, please share this Petition for your famil and friends and wild horse groups, and if you live in Australia please continue to share with your Brumby Groups.

MATAGI photo by David of Brumby Trails​

BRUMBY ACTION GROUP

Photo Credit: Paul McIver