Court Ruling on Controversial Culling: Court: Killing Wild Horses in Australia is Legitimate

A court in Australia has ruled that the killing of wild horses, known as brumbies, in the Kosciuszko National Park is legitimate. Animal welfare activists failed to win their lawsuit after a three-day hearing.

The court has ordered the Ministry of the Environment to reduce the population of brumbies to 3,000 by 2027. The court's decision highlights that animal welfare is not the sole consideration for the minister. The brumbies, descendants of European settler horses, are disrupting the park's ecological balance and endangering wetlands.

The government plans to relocate some of the horses to other areas. Critics argue that shooting the horses from helicopters is cruel, but the court ruled in favor of the culling to protect the delicate ecosystem.

The population of brumbies is estimated to be between 12,797 and 21,760 in the park, and the culling aims to address their growing numbers.