During Autumn, the Australian Alps Co-operative Management Program will be working with Parks Victoria and the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service to conduct an aerial feral horse survey across the Australian Alps landscape in Victoria and New South Wales.
The purpose of the aerial feral horse survey is to produce an estimate of the horse populations in certain sections of the Australian Alps, along with the changes to the feral horse population in these surveyed sections.
The aerial feral horse survey was previously conducted in 2001, 2003, 2009 and 2014, ensuring the data collected from 2019’s program will continue to provide valuable information and statistics to land managers, scientists and other stakeholders when updating management plans for the Australian Alps landscape.
Like previous surveys, the results will be subjected to a rigorous internal review along with multiple independent peer reviews. The results will assist in providing a comprehensive view of the current horse numbers, range and population trends across the Australian Alps landscape. Additionally, it provides vital information that will contribute to future scientific research and inform evidence based adaptive management by various Parks agencies.
The aerial feral horse survey will be conducted during daylight hours simultaneously across the Australian Alps landscape using helicopters. Therefore, we are advising visitors and residents of a short-term increase in helicopter activity during this time.
Source: Parks Victoria