Kosciuszko begins to recover as feral horse numbers fall

Feral horse numbers in Kosciuszko National Park have fallen from about 17,000 to roughly 3,000 after culling and legal changes; early field observations report small patches of vegetation regrowth, softer creek edges and fewer horses on roads.

Numbers of feral horses in Kosciuszko National Park have fallen sharply and the landscape is showing early signs of change. In 2023 New South Wales authorised aerial shooting, and in late November the state repealed the law that had given horses special heritage protection in the park. The most recent survey estimates about 3,000 horses remain, down from roughly 17,000 a year earlier, and more than 9,000 horses have been culled since 2021. Field observers report small patches of vegetation regrowth, softer creek edges and fewer horses on roads. Key facts: - In 2023 the state authorised aerial shooting of feral horses and a late-November bill removed the park’s special legal protections for horses. - Latest estimates put horse numbers in the park at around 3,000, down from roughly 17,000 a year ago; over 9,000 have been culled since 2021. - Studies and satellite analyses link horses to reduced vegetation cover, soil compaction, damaged peat beds and eroded streambanks in alpine areas. - Peatland damage reduces the landscape’s ability to store snowmelt and sustain summer streamflows; the Australian Alps supply nearly a third of surface water that enters the Murray–Darling Basin. - Native species cited as affected include alpine skinks, broad-toothed rats, corroboree frogs, mountain pygmy possums and native fish that rely on dense vegetation and intact moss or sediment-free streams. - Observations so far are anecdotal: small vegetation patches are reappearing in trampled areas, creek edges look less compacted in places, and motorists encounter fewer horses on roads. Summary: Reducing horse numbers has eased grazing and trampling pressure, and observers report early, local signs of ecosystem recovery such as vegetation regrowth and softer stream edges. Bog and peat-forming plants are expected to regrow slowly, which could improve water storage and habitat over time, but full recovery will take decades. The current management plan aims to retain about 3,000 horses and remains in place until mid-2027, and long-term empirical studies have been identified as important to track recovery and identify areas needing targeted restoration.