Feral horses and their environmental impacts in the Australian Alps: policy and management priorities

Authors: Ayesha IT Tulloch, Euan G Ritchie, and Don Driscoll

Published in: Austral Ecology

Summary

Feral horses cause extensive ecological harm, including damage to soil, waterways, vegetation, and the carbon cycle, leading to declines in threatened species.

While most Australian states pursue population reduction or removal, NSW’s Kosciuszko Wild Horse Heritage Act mandates retention of horses in parts of Kosciuszko National Park, contradicting scientific consensus and national conservation policies.

Scientific evidence strongly supports complete removal of feral horses from sensitive alpine and subalpine ecosystems, as fencing and local exclusion are insufficient.

Effective protection and restoration of damaged alpine ecosystems requires coordinated management of all invasive species, evidence-based public communication, and legislative support.

Tulloch AIT, Ritchie EG, Driscoll DA (2025) Feral horses and their environmental impacts in the Australian Alps: policy and management priorities. Austral Ecology PDF DOI