Police Investigate Deaths of Two Brumbies in Kosciuszko National Park
NSW Police are investigating the shooting deaths of two brumbies found on a popular walking track in Kosciuszko National Park, outside the government's sanctioned cull zone. The discovery has inflamed tensions surrounding the controversial brumby culling program.
Officers from Monaro Police District are urging anyone with information to come forward. The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) confirmed the deaths are not part of the active cull. “These horses were not shot by NPWS. The deaths were not part of any authorised NPWS control program,” a spokesperson told 7NEWS.com.au. The horses were shot outside the cull zone.
Locally Known Stallion Matagi Among the Dead
The horses are believed to be a locally well-known stallion named Matagi and a black mare. The discovery has sent shockwaves through the Snowy Mountains community. Snowy Mountain Brumby Adventures operators Michelle and Ian raised questions about how the deaths occurred inside a tightly controlled national park. “Kosciuszko has been treated like a fortress — the public stopped, questioned and turned back — so how did someone get in, shoot two horses, and leave without being detected?” they queried on Facebook.
Aerial Culling Program Resumes Amid Controversy
The latest round of aerial culling started on June 29, reigniting one of Australia’s most divisive environmental fights. The NSW Government says the brumby population in Kosciuszko National Park has surged again, with new estimates showing anywhere between 6,000 and 16,000 wild horses roaming the fragile alpine landscape. This represents a dramatic rebound from 2024, when counts suggested as few as 2,131 horses remained.
The NSW Government is legally required to keep the horse population at 3,000, meaning an estimated 3,000 to 10,000 are set to be killed in the park over the next 12 months. Covering 689,600 hectares, the park is one of the largest conservation reserves in Australia, and tourism campaigns often feature photos of the horses grazing.
Environmental vs. Advocacy Groups
Environmental groups and the NSW Government argue the horses cause widespread damage — trampling waterways, destroying native habitat, and threatening species like the broad-toothed rat and corroboree frog. But brumby advocates say the deaths of so many horses is horrific and there are other ways to save them via rehoming efforts.
