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Wild horses: Why brumbies will be culled in Queensland | Wild horses: Why brumbies will be culled in Queensland |
(35 minutes later) | |
Two fatalities in the Australian state of Queensland have prompted authorities to approve a controversial cull of feral horses on public land. | Two fatalities in the Australian state of Queensland have prompted authorities to approve a controversial cull of feral horses on public land. |
A 15-year-old boy was recently killed and his mother critically injured after the car they were travelling in collided with the carcass of a horse. | A 15-year-old boy was recently killed and his mother critically injured after the car they were travelling in collided with the carcass of a horse. |
Back in July, a motorcyclist died when he hit a horse on the same highway at Bluewater, north of Townsville. | Back in July, a motorcyclist died when he hit a horse on the same highway at Bluewater, north of Townsville. |
Queensland National Parks Minister Steven Miles has confirmed the long-debated cull of the brumbies will go ahead, saying it would be conducted humanely and within strict guidelines. | Queensland National Parks Minister Steven Miles has confirmed the long-debated cull of the brumbies will go ahead, saying it would be conducted humanely and within strict guidelines. |
"We have experimented with a whole range of different options, but they have tended to result in poor animal welfare outcomes," he said. | "We have experimented with a whole range of different options, but they have tended to result in poor animal welfare outcomes," he said. |
He also asked motorists to exercise caution on the Bruce Highway, urged local residents to fix fences on their properties, and to avoid feeding feral horses. | |
'One horse too many' | 'One horse too many' |
The government estimates at least 400,000 wild horses roam the Australian continent, with the biggest populations found in the Northern Territory and Queensland. | The government estimates at least 400,000 wild horses roam the Australian continent, with the biggest populations found in the Northern Territory and Queensland. |
About 200 are thought to be roaming in the Northern Beaches area around the Bruce Highway, and are increasingly wandering onto the roads. | About 200 are thought to be roaming in the Northern Beaches area around the Bruce Highway, and are increasingly wandering onto the roads. |
Former Queensland National Parks employee and Wildlife Queensland spokesperson Des Boyland said he commended the state government for taking action. | Former Queensland National Parks employee and Wildlife Queensland spokesperson Des Boyland said he commended the state government for taking action. |
"We've been asking for a number of years," Mr Boyland said. "If there's one horse in there, there's one horse too many." | "We've been asking for a number of years," Mr Boyland said. "If there's one horse in there, there's one horse too many." |
"National parks are no place for feral animals and horses are feral animals that cause economic and environmental damage." | "National parks are no place for feral animals and horses are feral animals that cause economic and environmental damage." |
He said the issue was controversial and politically sensitive because of the majesty and mythology surrounding the horse, immortalised in Banjo Paterson's The Man from Snowy River. | He said the issue was controversial and politically sensitive because of the majesty and mythology surrounding the horse, immortalised in Banjo Paterson's The Man from Snowy River. |
The popular poem details the mission to reclaim a prized colt living amongst the brumbies. | The popular poem details the mission to reclaim a prized colt living amongst the brumbies. |
Anne Wilson of the South East Queensland Brumby Association, says Australia "was built on horseback". | Anne Wilson of the South East Queensland Brumby Association, says Australia "was built on horseback". |
She told the BBC the continent was pioneered by settlers on horseback, and this is the reason horses featured prominently in the Sydney Olympics opening ceremony. | She told the BBC the continent was pioneered by settlers on horseback, and this is the reason horses featured prominently in the Sydney Olympics opening ceremony. |
But the horses, like many other introduced species, have since damaged native habitats and can threaten native wildlife. They can also reduce biodiversity and devalue crops. | But the horses, like many other introduced species, have since damaged native habitats and can threaten native wildlife. They can also reduce biodiversity and devalue crops. |
They also compete with cattle for food and water, which the Queensland government has said costs the beef industry an estimated $30-60m Australian dollars ($21m: £14m) a year. | They also compete with cattle for food and water, which the Queensland government has said costs the beef industry an estimated $30-60m Australian dollars ($21m: £14m) a year. |
Population control | Population control |
The specifics of the Queensland cull, including how and when it will be carried out, are yet to be finalised. | The specifics of the Queensland cull, including how and when it will be carried out, are yet to be finalised. |
Aerial culling, which involves helicopters and trained marksmen, is a popular method, described by Wildlife Queensland's Des Boyland as the most humane option. But it has also been criticised as ineffective in densely forested areas. | Aerial culling, which involves helicopters and trained marksmen, is a popular method, described by Wildlife Queensland's Des Boyland as the most humane option. But it has also been criticised as ineffective in densely forested areas. |
Passive trapping is another way of controlling the populations, which is used in parts of Kosciuszko National Park in New South Wales. Brumbies are lured into trap-yards with salt and molasses, then euthanised or re-homed. | Passive trapping is another way of controlling the populations, which is used in parts of Kosciuszko National Park in New South Wales. Brumbies are lured into trap-yards with salt and molasses, then euthanised or re-homed. |
But Australian Brumby Alliance President Jill Pickering said there were alternatives. | But Australian Brumby Alliance President Jill Pickering said there were alternatives. |
She told the BBC road safety campaigns and signs can help manage the risks, but concedes the horse populations need to be sustainably managed. | She told the BBC road safety campaigns and signs can help manage the risks, but concedes the horse populations need to be sustainably managed. |
"Numbers need to be reduced, not in my view eliminated, because they're a part of that area and many people want them there," Ms Pickering said. | "Numbers need to be reduced, not in my view eliminated, because they're a part of that area and many people want them there," Ms Pickering said. |
"We would prefer they are then offered to people who know how to handle them, but there are very few people in the Townsville area who can do that." | "We would prefer they are then offered to people who know how to handle them, but there are very few people in the Townsville area who can do that." |
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