Aussie scientists back plan to kill brumbies in national park

Australian scientists have backed a controversial plan to cull more than 5,000 brumbies found roaming around on Snowy Mountains, Sydney as the animals were found to have been destroying the delicate Alpine environment in the area.

A group of 41 scientists from 16 universities in Australia wrote to New South Wales Premier Mike Baird, expressing their support for the killing of 90 percent of the brumby population in Kosciuszko National Park.

The controversial plan which has yet to be materialized, is set to bring the current count of brumbies down to 600 from 6,000 over the next 20 years, local media reported on Friday.

Professor Don Driscoll, from Deakin University, one of the signatories of the letter, said academics behind the letter represented the greatest pool of knowledge about Alpine ecosystems in the country.

"Horses are stock animals recently introduced and are not characteristic of this area, but threaten ecosystem processes, ecosystems and species that are characteristic," Driscoll said in a statement.

He said the brumbies in Kosciuszko have degraded 48 percent of the national park and the current management strategy was not working.

Driscoll said the brumbies population has also increased from 4,200 in 2009 to 6,000 despite 450 horses being removed each year.

However, Driscoll said scientists did not agree with all aspects of the plan, arguing that the 20-year time frame was too long and inhumane and preferred a faster process.

The controversial plan proposed earlier this month has drawn the ire of some locals, brumby lovers, and animal activists, with almost 250 people protesting against the plan in Sydney alone.

Those protesting argued that the iconic brumbies have been in the park for 150 years and shooting them was out of the question. Endit