The NSW government will restart its program to rehome brumbies from Kosciuszko National Park within four weeks.
The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water has made public the report into the rehoming program.
The external investigation examined allegations from 2GB broadcaster Ray Hadley that the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service had failed to comply with its own rules when it rehomed over 250 horses to a person with alleged links to an illegal knackery.
Feral horses in Kosciuszko National Park.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen
The report upheld the principle that NPWS was no longer responsible for the captured horses after it transferred ownership to the rehomer. However, the report recommended some improvements to the program management, such as formalising and updating the application forms and reporting on the fate of the horses several months later.
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NSW Minister for the Environment and Heritage Penny Sharpe said she accepted the recommendations and would ask the department to action them immediately.
“I want the public to be able to trust this program and for good rehoming organisations to continue to participate,” Sharpe said.
“I have asked that rehoming restart as soon as possible. I am advised this will be in approximately four weeks.”
In October 2023, NPWS estimated there were between 12,797 and 21,760 brumbies, also known as feral horses, in Kosciuszko National Park. The government is legally obliged to reduce the numbers in the national park to below 3000 to protect the fragile alpine environment, while also maintaining a population for heritage value.
NPWS rehomed 995 horses from Kosciuszko National Park between November 2021 and May 2024. It has killed more than 5000 via aerial shooting in the past couple of months.