Brumby Watch Australia - GFRNP - Brumby deaths & cruelty __

There have been a number of deaths in the Guy Fawkes River National Park when brumbies were caught by
the National Parks and Wildlife Service.
When catching brumbies, there is always the possibility of some being injured, killed or having to be destroyed
as a result of being badly injured, however a number of activities carried out by the NPWS staff were not
professional nor acceptable.
Trapping is the method which results in the least amount of injuries and deaths. It is also the least stressful
method.

The 'Report on the cull of feral horses in the Guy Fawkes River National Park in October 2000'
by Dr A. English, 15th November 2000 reads:

Feral Horse Control Techniques in GFRNP
Section 38:- Later in 1993 the first attempted muster of feral horses was carried out, using electric tape
to guide the horses into temporary yards. None were caught. In June 1993, 28 animals were caught in
three runs ( 18/19/1 ) at Rock Wall in temporary yards made from shade cloth. This remains the single
most successful capture of horses in the Park, with seven people involved.
There is no mention here as to whether any brumbies were injured or killed.
One would also wonder what is meant by the words "most successful "? Does it mean most cost effective, does
it mean the least amount of brumbies were injured or destroyed, or does it mean the most humane method??
Section 39:- In 1994 a set of steel yards were built and used to capture 27 horses which were mustered
by local horsemen. Some animals died from injuries received when they hit the steel yards. This was an expensive failure, and the yards were not used again for animal welfare reasons.
It is not surprising that it was decided that this method should not be used again.
Section 40:- In 1995, the Service turned to light fishing nets to construct temporary yards in locations
where mustered horses could be caught. In the first attempt private horsemen were used, with two
horses captured. However both escaped by breaking through the light nets.
This was tried again later in the year with heavier nets, with 7 horses caught.
The blue nets were dyed to make them less visible for further attempts, which was an improvement.
In three activities a total of 35 were caught in net enclosures, using horsemen and a helicopter in two
attempts in October 1995.
This last episode involved not only the aircraft but 8 people ( 5 service, 3 private ) over 9 days, at an
estimated cost of $7,500. Eleven horses were caught, but one mare close to foaling was injured and
had to be shot.
In December this was repeated using heavy net enclosures, with 12 caught over 5 days using only horsemen. Two pregnant mares broke their necks, 4 were shot for dog meat, and 6 were taken out.
This method should not be used again.
Section 41:- In 1996 and 1997 there was no mustering, but in 1998 the heavy net enclosures were used
again, with mustering by horsemen and a helicopter. A small number were caught, of which 4 were
released with radio collars for a study on home ranges. This activity extended over 5 days and utilised
7 people ( 4 Service, 3 Private ) and was costed at $8,869.
There is no mention here as to whether any brumbies were injured or killed.
There is a report that some brumbies were injured and therefore had to be destroyed.
A similar attempt at the Sara River junction in May 1999 resulted in 18 horses being caught, with
10 people involved over 5 days.
Again, there is no mention here as to whether any brumbies were injured or killed.
Section 42:- A total of 156 horses were removed from the Park by these measures, with 15 or more
musters between 1992 and 1999. The cost-effectiveness of these activities must obviously be
questioned in relation to the benefits derived from reducing the population by only this number,
which is arguably less than the natural rate of increase or the herd.
Perhaps the 'cost-effectiveness of these activities' is what lead the National Parks and Wildlife Service to
resort to the inhumane aerial slaughter in October 2000.
There were also significant animal welfare concerns in relation to the techniques that were used, despite
the involvement of experienced local horsemen and experienced Service staff.
It is worth mentioning here that NPWS staff did not always take the advice of experienced local horsemen.
Also one would not class the NPWS staff as "experienced Service staff".

Animal Welfare Concerns
Section 43:- Despite a commitment over a number of years to utilise non-lethal means to reduce the
horse herd in GFRNP, there were significant problems in the techniques that were used to catch and
move the horses from the Park. These stemmed from the behaviour of the horses and the remoteness
and nature of the terrain, and in particular from the difficulty encountered in getting trapped horses
out of the valley and up on to the escarpment.
With an absence of roads over most of the area it was necessary to lead the horses up the valley.
This was done initially by the use of stock horses, behind which the haltered feral horses were lead many
kilometres. They were generally not inclined to travel readily in this way, and the whole process was
difficult and stressful for the stock horses, the newly caught feral horses and the people.
In 1999 a trial was conducted whereby the haltered horses were tethered behind 4-wheel drive
vehicles and virtually dragged up the escarpment.
This is an act of cruelty - How ignorant, inhumane and unprofessional. Worth mentioning is that NPWS
staff were advised against this method. This was also a failure, in that the animals fought against the
vehicles and fought against the vehicles and became quite distressed.
Section 44:- In the time immediately after being trapped and even before the attempts to move the
horses up the valley there was a very stressful 24 hours, in which the animals were roped in the
enclosure, and then usually thrown to the ground and haltered. The practice was to tether them for the
first night in the enclosure, drag them to the river for a drink and then begin the move up the
escarpment. This whole process resulted in a number of horses being injured or killed, and all animals
that were taken out were certainly very distressed by what was done to them. It was also extremely
dangerous for the people concerned.

Brumbies received broken necks and broken legs, as reported by people other than NPWS staff.