Last minute attempts to save a herd of wild ponies living at Singleton army base have failed.
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The Department of Defence confirmed on Tuesday afternoon that the animals would be culled.
It did not say the ponies would die by bullets shot out of a helicopter, known as aerial shooting, but it noted that a range of other control measures had already been tried and had limited success.
It also said ground shooting was risky because of unexploded ordnance at the base.
Defence claimed the horses were environmental pests, had caused erosion, damaged vegetation and were a danger to staff at the base.
The statement said animals were a ‘key threatening process’ under federal environmental legislation, and that meant action to protect environmental values should be taken.
Just last week Defence blamed the drought for the cull, saying there was not enough food or water to sustain the herd – and that was an animal welfare issue.
About 100 to 150 ponies, which grow to 1.2 metres tall, live on the base.
A range of control measures have previously been tried to manage the feral horse population in the Singleton Military Training Area, however these have only been partially successful. As a result, Defence has taken the difficult decision to control the feral horse population,
- the statement said.
“The Department understands that this is an emotive issue and that not everyone in the community will be supportive of this measure.
“Defence can assure members of the public that this feral population control measure is being carried out in accordance with relevant legislation and codes of practice. The RSPCA has been engaged throughout this process.”
It is not known exactly when the cull will take place. Defence previously told the Mercury the cull would take place between December and January, but Hunter Valley Brumby Association says it has been scheduled for this week.
The association, NSW Animal Justice Party and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) have been trying to stop the cull.
The party’s Emma Hurst said defence should be using immunocontraceptive sterilisation to control the herd, which involved shooting the ponies with a dart that makes them infertile for a certain amount of time.
She said aerial culling would tear the equine families apart and cause “unimaginable cruelty”.
“Aerial culling is exceptionally brutal,” Ms Hurst said.
The NSW RSPCA was part of a briefing with Defence about the ponies. The association, which has taken in three ponies from the base this year, was not invited.
The RSPCA said it did not have any jurisdiction on the army base and cannot enforce procedures or prosecute for wrongdoings.
Defence noted it had previously tried to rehome the horses but that didn’t work because they were too traumatised from the activities at the base.
“Shooting horses from helicopters is proven to be inhumane,” president Kath Massey said.
We wanted them to take aerial culling off the table as a method to control these animals at the very least. The community are keeping their eyes and ears on the base and will take photos and video of anything they see happening there.
