Environmental issues

Pests and weeds

Feral horses

Scientists have found that feral horses can damage native environments in various ways:

  • increasing soil erosion, by killing vegetation, disturbing the soil and creating paths along frequently used routes
  • destroying native plants, by grazing and trampling
  • fouling waterholes
  • collapsing wildlife burrows
  • competing with native animals for food and shelter
  • spreading weeds, through their dung and hair.
English Reports on feral horse management in national parks and reserves
Download three reports by Professor Tony English about NPWS wild horse control programs. The reports were commissioned following the culling of feral horses in Guy Fawkes River National Park in October 2000.

Guy Fawkes River National Park Horse Management Plan
Approved July 2006.

Kosciuszko National Park alpine area - horse management plan
Download this plan which examines and proposes methods for feral horse management in the sensitive alpine environments of the state's largest park.

Kosciuszko National Park Horse Management Plan
Adopted December 2008

Guy Fawkes River National Park - wild horses heritage study
Following a horse culling operation in Guy Fawkes River National Park in October 2000, a working party was formed to study the heritage value of wild horses in the park. Download the working party's final report on this difficult issue.

Oxley Wild Rivers National Park - feral horse management plan
Adopted May 2006
Page last updated: 27 October 2011