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Background
The Australian Alps are a place of outstanding natural and cultural significance and the national parks within them are included on the Australian National Heritage List. Containing the highest points in the Great Dividing Range and spanning more than 600 km from Victoria to the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), they cover an area of more than 1.6 million hectares. They are home to the headwaters of many major rivers in south-eastern Australia and contain a variety of complex ecosystems that are critical habitat for native plant and animal species and communities, many of which are under threat.
Since 1986, a coordinated cross-border partnership including the Federal Government, NSW, ACT, and Victorian Government agencies has actively collaborated to provide improved outcomes for the alps landscape and all its diverse values – nature, culture, heritage and communities.
A variety of wild horse research and monitoring projects have occurred. This fact sheet highlights the two most recent projects and their results:
- Wild horses are widespread throughout the Australian Alps and they are causing significant damage to this region including fragile alpine and sub-alpine ecosystems. Impact surveys have been part of the monitoring process.
- Wild horse numbers in the landscape also appear to be on the increase. Over the last 15 years aerial surveys and improved mathematical modelling of horse abundance and distribution have helped inform management of horse population status, now and into the future.