Animal lovers are outraged after learning that the Australian government plans to shoot thousands of wild horses via aerial sharpshooters in helicopters. The horses, known as brumbies, reside in Kosciuszko National Park and officials want to reduce their numbers from 19,000 to approximately 3,000.
New South Wales Environment Minister Penny Sharpe said that while nobody “wants” to kill the horses, something drastic must be done.
“Threatened native species are in danger of extinction and the entire ecosystem is under threat. We must take action.”
Sharpshooters killed wild horses from helicopters back in 2000, but the cull stopped after several days when the public reacted negatively to the method officials were using.
Some people believe the horses are part of Australia’s national identity, but others, especially environmentalists, believe they are destroying native plants and causing soil erosion.
Animal lovers have pointed out that the horses shot from the air sometimes do not die immediately and they may suffer for days before succumbing to their injuries.
What do you think about the government’s directive? Please feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section below.
(Stock image of horses via Pixabay)
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