NSW Police, Forests NSW and Game Council NSW are appealing to the public to help find the person(s) responsible for the latest shooting of brumbies in the Maragle and Bago State Forests near Tumbarumba.
The majority of the horses were killed in the Maragle State Forest near West Power Line Road, approximately 30 kilometres south-east of Tumbarumba with two mares found shot dead near East Bago Power Line Road in Bago State Forest.
These latest shootings bring the total number of brumbies killed in the region to over 100 in the past 18 months.
Forests NSW feral animal control officer/ranger, Mark Goldspink, located the dead horses after being alerted to their deaths by a member of the public.
Kevin Petty, Planning Manager for Forests NSW Southern Region said his organisation is working with Game Council NSW and NSW Police to stop the shootings.
NSW Police Crime Manager for the Tumbarumba district, Detective Inspector Brad Blanchard is based at Albury and is keen to put a stop to the shootings.
“We are urging people with any information on the brumby shootings to come forward.
“In the past there have been reports on brumbies being shot, however after the latest incident where eight horses were shot, a
coordinated on-going investigation is
now underway,” said Detective Inspector Blanchard.
He confirmed the police are working alongside Forests NSW and Game Council NSW with both covert and overt investigations in the district to solve this crime.
“We have collected bullets from dead brumbies and sent them to the NSW Police Force Ballistic Unit for testing, with information now stored on a data base.
“Police can now test any seized firearms for a ballistics match with these bullets,” said the Detective Inspector.
Forests NSW has been tracking the numbers, movements and impacts of brumbies in recent years and if they consider the number is getting too high a structured trapping and relocation program would be implemented by the organisation in consultation with National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS).
“The brumbies seem to be coming from Kosciousko National Park through the Tumut Gorge into the area.
“The impact of the horses in the area does not seem to be significant.
“There are occupation grazing permits for cattle in this area and with the continuing drought, cattle and horses tend to utilize fewer watering holes, joining together in bigger mobs.
“In fact the animals are doing a good job in fire hazard reduction as they are reducing elevated fuels and grasses, thereby decreasing the risk of wildfire in the forests,” said Mr Petty.
Forests NSW is concerned that safety is a key issue.
“With many cattle in the area, farmers are regularly checking on their stock.
“At the same time the area is a declared hunting area and Game Council NSW has many members using the forest for their
activities.
“Brumbies are not listed as game animal under the Game and Feral Animals Control Act 2002, therefore the shooting, hunting and trapping of brumbies is illegal in State forests.
“Also many campers and bushwalkers use this area and we are concerned that anyone indiscriminately shooting at the brumbies could fatally injure another person,” said Mr Petty.
If people are arrested in relation to the shootings they will face serious charges.
“They will be charged with a number of offences including trespassing, possession of firearms, illegal hunting of brumbies and cruelty to animals,” said Detective Inspector Blanchard.
The situation is a tense one in the Tumbarumba district.
The latest shootings occurred in a highly visible area for the public at a very busy time of the year and police are hopeful that with assistance from the public the offenders will be caught and prosecuted.
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