In brief
- New estimates reveal the wild horse population in Kosciuszko National Park have surged to as many as 16,411.
- Aerial culling efforts had been put on hold last year, but will now resume.
Despite concerted efforts to control their population, the numbers of brumbies, or wild horses, have surged dramatically, impacting the well-known Kosciuszko National Park in New South Wales. Recent figures indicate that the population has swelled to at least 6,476 and could be as high as 16,411, marking a significant increase from previous estimates.
Last year’s data painted a different picture, with estimates ranging from 2,131 to 5,639 horses, suggesting a substantial rise in numbers over the past year. This resurgence comes after the suspension of aerial culling operations in March 2025, a decision influenced by both the apparent success in population reduction and growing concerns about the method’s cruelty, which reportedly left some horses injured and unattended.
The presence of these feral horses continues to pose a threat to the fragile ecosystem of the park, with advocates for culling asserting that meaningful ecological recovery cannot occur until the brumby population is significantly reduced.
The NSW government remains committed to its contentious management strategy, aiming to reduce the brumby population to fewer than 3,000 by mid-2027, in line with legislative goals. This plan continues to stir debate about the best approach to balancing conservation efforts with ethical considerations.
Damage to the park’s fragile ecosystem by the wild horses remains widespread and won’t cease until the animals are essentially removed, some culling advocates say.
Under its controversial management plan, the NSW government is working toward a legislated target of less than 3,000 brumbies across the park by mid-2027.
In 2022, when culling began, the number of horses in the park was as high as 23,535, with trapping, rehoming and ground shooting reducing numbers by only a few thousand.
The introduction of aerial culling in late 2023 resulted in a drastic reduction, with more than 6,000 animals shot from helicopters.
‘No one wants to have to kill horses’
Aerial shooting will resume in June, while rehoming of horses from retention areas begins on Friday.
The National Parks and Wildlife Service will also assess plans for a fertility control trial based on global evidence.
Invasive Species Council chief executive Jack Gough said population boom cycles would continue while large populations were allowed to persist.
‘It’s simple biology — feral animals do not stop breeding because control efforts are paused for a year,” he said.
“The consequence of that will be even more horses will need to be culled.”
Gough argued rehoming and fertility control would not meaningfully reduce horse numbers.
“We are dealing with thousands of feral horses across rugged alpine country,” he said.
The council is also calling for the scrapping of retention zones which apply to 32 per cent of the park, introduced under the Kosciuszko Wild Horse Heritage Act.
NSW Environment Minister Penny Sharpe said the latest survey showed much more work was needed to control the population.
“No one wants to have to kill horses. But there are still too many in Kosciuszko National Park,” she said.
“We will use the best available science and take a cautious, evidence-based approach to reach the required population target, in order to protect native vegetation, animals, waterways and cultural values.”
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