1.       We ask an immediate halt on any shooting of Brumbies living   in the Alpine National Park.

2.        We ask for an immediate numbers count of Brumbies living in the Alpine National Park, Bogong High Plains and Eastern Alps

3.         We ask that Parks Victoria engage in community consultation about any changes it proposes to the current Management Plan. 

4.         Support rehoming by extending time-frames for parties interested in rehoming to lodge expressions of interest and to remove Brumbies.

'The Protection of the Alpine National Park:Feral Horse Strategic Action Plan 2018–2021' (the Plan) at page 25    “Shooting Free Ranging Horses” (concerning shooting Brumbies) states: “Will not be used to control free-ranging feral horses. In year three of this plan an evaluation of the success or otherwise of trapping and other capture methods will commence. If results demonstrate that the use of additional techniques may be required to achieve adequate protection of the environment from feral horses, further public consultation and dialogue will be undertaken on techniques such as shooting of free-range animals.”

THERE HAS BEEN NO COMMUNITY CONSULTATION NOR A NUMBERS COUNT TAKEN AFTER THE WILDFIRES.

NOBODY KNOWS HOW MANY BRUMBIES LIVE IN THE ALPINE NATIONAL PARK

Further  at Page 24 Trapping is  preferred  Will be used as the preferred primary control method. Trapping will be used as the primary method to remove feral horses from all areas in the Alpine National Park area. In 2018-2019 an expanded trapping network will be established. Detailed locations for traps will be determined during planning prior to operational implementation

and At Page 26 Management of Captured HorsesRegular communication from Parks Victoria and a cooperative partnership with community interest groups will be integral to a successful outcome for horse management. Parks Victoria has and will continue to work with the horse rehoming groups to provide rehoming or ownership opportunities for captured horses. Capacity of interested community groups to accept and rehome captured horses needs to be comprehensively understood, and additional opportunities for rehoming horses investigated if feasible. It is not proposed that Parks Victoria will manage holding properties for captured horses, therefore rehoming interest and capacity in the community is critical to a successful rehoming program.

Rehoming captured horses is a priority and will be attempted in partnership with brumby interest groups. Where rehoming options can be secured, horses will be transported from capture sites and offered for rehoming by volunteer horse interest groups and partner organisations. Not all horses may be suitable for, or able to be taken by, horse interest groups for ownership or rehoming. Where there is not capacity from these groups to rehome the captured horse, and where transport can be minimised, the horse or horses may be offered for sale at suitable sale yards.

It is clear Parks Victoria have failed to comply with the terms of the Management Plan and are set to destroy any goodwill it may have forged with Brumby Groups in the past if it proceeds to shoot any Brumbies in the Alpine National Park.

Shooting Brumbies in the Alpine Parks is opposed by Brumby Groups, 10,000 people who have already signed the ePetition and nearly 100,000 people who have signed this Change Org Petition.

PLEASE SHARE THIS PETITION FAR AND WIDE and write to lily.dambrosio@parliament.vic.gov.au and daniel.andrews@parliament.vic.gov.au

to pledge your support for the Brumbies.