Managing wild horse impacts in Kosciuszko National Park

The delicate alpine and sub-alpine ecosystems of Kosciuszko National Park face many threats, including pressures from introduced animals such as wild horses. Maintaining the balance between protecting the park and the heritage value of wild horses is a complex task.

Collapsed stream bank in Kosciuszko National Park showing damage caused by wild horses.

The NSW Government passed the Kosciuszko Wild Horse Heritage Act 2018, which recognises and protects wild horse heritage values in Kosciuszko National Park and enables active management of the wild horse population to reduce their impact on the park's fragile environment.

A wild horse heritage management plan was adopted by the Minister for Energy and Environment on 24 November 2021. The plan has been prepared to meet the requirements of the Kosciuszko Wild Horse Heritage Act. The plan:

  • Identifies the heritage value of wild horse populations in parts of the park.
  • Protects the heritage values of wild horses by retaining a wild horse population of 3000 horses in 32% of the park. Wild horses have been retained in areas that are strongly associated with wild horse heritage values.
  • Maintains the environmental values of the park by reducing the wild horse population from an estimated 14,380 horses to 3000 horses by 30 June 2027. Under the plan, there will be no wild horses across 68% of the park.

The removal of wild horses will occur in accordance with best practice animal welfare requirements.

Kosciuszko National Park contains some of Australia's most beautiful and unique natural landscapes, plants and animals. This includes the main alpine and sub-alpine area in New South Wales: commonly known as the Snowy Mountains.

Based on a spring 2022 population survey, it is estimated there are just over 18,800 wild horses across the park. There is strong scientific evidence that wild horses damage the park's fragile alpine and sub-alpine environment. Impacts include trampling fragile sub-alpine ecosystems, eroding waterways and destroying key habitat for threatened species such as the northern corroboree frog and stocky galaxias fish.

The negative environmental impact of wild horses has been formally recognised by the listing of habitat degradation and loss by feral horses as a Key Threatening Process in Schedule 4 of the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016. The impact of wild horses in the park has been well-documented in a number of scientific, peer-reviewed papers.

The Kosciuszko Wild Horse Community Advisory Panel is established under the Kosciuszko Wild Horse Heritage Act 2018.

More information

National Parks and Wildlife Service undertakes control programs for wild horses in Kosciuszko National Park.

More information

Kosciuszko wild horse management – register of interest

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Respectful engagement

Many individuals and groups across the community have strong, passionate views about the best ways to manage wild horses in Kosciuszko National Park.

Community input and informed and respectful debate is always welcome. Unfortunately, in the past, views and opinions on wild horse management have been expressed to National Parks and Wildlife Service staff in ways that are not respectful, productive or in line with acceptable community standards. A zero-tolerance approach will be taken to any interactions, correspondence, or phone calls that are considered harassing or threatening.

Comments, queries or requests for information about wild horse management should be directed to National Parks and Wildlife Service and a response will be provided as soon as possible. We look forward to hearing from you.