Five Innocent Horses Massacred in Bungled Aerial Cull: NSW Government’s Shameful Blunder Sparks Outrage
- Five domestic horses were shot dead in a botched aerial cull on a remote NSW-Queensland border property
- Parks and Wildlife Service staff failed to distinguish between wild and domestic horses, leading to the tragic mistake
- National Parks and Wildlife Service apologises for the “unfortunate accident” and vows to conduct a thorough review
In a shocking admission, NSW Environment Minister Penny Sharpe has revealed that five innocent horses were massacred in a bungled aerial cull on a remote property on the NSW-Queensland border. The devastating incident occurred in late September, when Parks and Wildlife Service staff inadvertently shot the domestic horses during a pest control operation.
“Unfortunately, some horses were left in the area and five domestic horses were unintentionally shot and killed during a broad scale feral animal control program,” Ms Sharpe said, visibly shaken by the incident. “National Parks has apologised for this very unfortunate accident and is conducting further review into the matter so that we ensure that this does not happen again.”
The Thurloo Downs property, purchased by the state government in 2023 for a whopping $108 million, was in the process of being gazetted as a national park when the tragedy unfolded. The property’s previous owner and neighbours had been notified of the cull two weeks in advance, but the presence of domestic horses in the “designated shoot plan” area was not detected.
Nationals MLC Scott Barrett has slammed the incident as a “tragic mistake that never should have happened” and demanded a full investigation into the matter. “I want to see a full investigation because we need to know how this happened and we need to make sure it never happens again,” Mr Barrett said. “I also want to see full compensation for the owner of the horses, though nothing could truly make up for what they’ve been through.”
Invasive Species Council chief executive Jack Gough has defended the aerial culling program, stating that it’s “essential” for managing feral animals. However, he also pointed out that it’s not the responsibility of National Parks to distinguish between feral and domestic horses. “Imagine how ridiculous it would be if National Parks had to check every pig or goat or horse to make sure some irresponsible person didn’t own them when they are carrying out feral animal control,” Mr Gough said.
The incident has sparked widespread outrage, with many calling for greater accountability and transparency in the management of national parks. As the investigation into the incident continues, one thing is clear: the lives of five innocent horses were lost due to a shocking display of incompetence.