AVA Submission on the Amendment of the Kosciuszko National Park WHH Management Plan 2021

The AVA thanks the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service for the opportunity to comment on this important issue.

The Australian Veterinary Association supports the primary thrust of the proposed amendments to the Kosciuszko National Park Wild Horse Management Plan 2021 (KWHMP 2021), as they align with our policy on the control of feral horses and other Equidae. The amendments are consistent with the AVA submission (April 2023) to an Inquiry of the Senate Standing Committee on Environment and Communications. In that submission we advocated for the adaptive use of the most humane and applicable culling methods and the need for policy to be scientifically based on the environmental health of the park. We also recommended the need for the plan to be adaptive and environmental outcomes monitored and reported regularly.

In preparing this submission we have responded to the specific amendments proposed and noted additional elements which should be modified in the amended plan.

Read the full submission here.