Maybe it would be better just to remove the Australians

Editor's Note:
Australia is a perfect example of messing with nature. Various species, not native to Australia, were introduced over the years and for decades the government has been promoting and sponsoring culls to rid the country of these animals - or at least to reduce their numbers. It seems the introductions didn't have the desired results.

So, they've culled domestic cats and rabbits - even koalas and kangaroos which, in case you don't know, ARE native to Australia. It's the Australians themselves who are not native.

The latest target is wild horses. It might just make more sense to remove the people.

- prh, ed.

Snowy Mountains brumbies cull sparks Australian anger

A horse runs in flood waters on April 22, 2015 near Dungog, Australia. Three people have died and more than 200,000 are still without power as cyclonic winds and rains continue to lash the Sydney, Hunter Valley and Central Coast regions of New South WalesImage copyright Getty Images

A plan to cull almost all the famous wild horses in Australia's Snowy Mountains region has been criticised as "horrific" by conservationists. The New South Wales government wants to cull about 90% of the horses, known as brumbies, in the alpine region.

Scientists have argued the horses damage fragile ecosystems and harm native wildlife.

The brumby is part of Australian folklore, featured in television shows and romanticised in poetry. The wild horses even appeared at the opening ceremony of the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

But in the Snowy Mountains they are seen as a feral pest that is damaging sensitive waterways, home to critically endangered native species.
The state government wants to reduce their numbers from 6,000 to just 600 over the next two decades.

Addressing the media on Sunday, state Environment Minister Mark Speakman described the issue as "emotive and complex".

"There are diverse opinions in the community and often deeply held views, which polarise stakeholder groups," Mr Speakman said. "It is clear, however, that the broader community values the unique environmental values of Kosciuszko National Park."

But groups committed to saving the famous wild horses say the proposed cull would be "absolutely horrific".

Jan Carter, president of the Save The Brumbies campaign group, said the wild horses were an important part of Australia's history.

"They are our culture, they are an icon, and they deserve to have protection, and above all they deserve to have humane handling," she told the Australian Broadcasting Corp.

The draft plan suggests trapping, re-homing, mustering, ground shooting, fertility control and fencing all be used to reduce the brumby population. Aerial culling, roping, and "brumby running", where hoses are roped by riders on horseback - illegal in NSW national parks as it is considered dangerous to horses and riders - have all been ruled out.

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