Feral horses can be seen grazing on the side of highways across the Kimberley
© ABC Kimberley: Rebecca Nadge
Hundreds of them are culled across Western Australia’s northern rangelands every year, yet the feral horses of the Kimberley fail to attract the same interest as the brumbies of the eastern states.
But a vet has warned that secrecy surrounding culling may impact animal welfare, and there are others that believe horses can bring benefits if properly managed.
The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development does not have an estimate for the number of feral horses in the Kimberley.
But publicly available annual reports indicate that the Kimberley Rangelands Biosecurity Association worked with the department to cull more than 3,000 horses between 2014 and 2018.
The association has a policy not to comment on pest control.
Independent veterinarian Jordan Hampton has been consulted in the past over the animal welfare aspects of culls in both the Kimberley and Pilbara region.
He said the controversy had made it hard to gather data and apply science-based solutions to ensure the best welfare outcomes…
Please click here to continue reading this article by Rebecca Nadge, that featured in the ABC News.
Source: ABC News
READ THE LATEST NEWS ARTICLES HERE
