WHOBAA COMMUNITY MESSAGE FORUM - By digitalcreations

"Bid to banish brumbies" by Lyndal Reading, Weekly Times, 26/9/’07

"Wild brumbies in the Barmah Forest could become a thing of the past.
A draft plan by Parks Victoria and the Department of Sustainability and Environment has proposed the complete removal of feral horses from the forest.
DSE forest manager David Harvey said feral horses contributed to the loss of plant species, the spread of weeds and soil compaction.
Mr Harvey said Aboriginal cultural sites and forest visitors could also be adversely affected.
"Feral horses can impose high pressure on parts of the landscape and contribute to the overall grazing pressure exerted on the forest," Mr Harvey said.
"DSE is of the view, therefore, that the wild brumbies need to be removed to conserve and protect the natural values of the Barmah Forest."
The authorities estimate there are between ,100 and 300 horses in the forest.
Barmah Forest Preservation League spokesman Peter Newman said Parks Victoria and the DSE believed that "suddenly the horses are causing damage," even though they had been in the forest for 150 years. _
"It's nice to be out there and see them," Mr Newman said. "They're part of the heritage of the area."
However, he said numbers should be managed to a moderate level."

They should look up the Exmoors in England - same savvy soul saved them years back, one of the worlds oldest breeds, and the ponies are not just a huge tourist drawcard to the forest, but control gorse, blackberry, other weeds - not of their doing, and their behavious cuts down the loss of smaller species by deterring foxes and weirdly, poachers etc.
Gees!! When will these people learn.
They can also look up the American sites, BLM (Bureau of Land Management) and off shoots, to see a semi managed wild herd does more good than harm.
How about that Nat Park in WA where they shot all the horses, but the waterways are now jammed with buffalo grass??!! huge fire hazard, lack of habitat...
Oh, and they introduced camels to the high country in the Monaro a couple of years back - to control weeds. Tsk. Yet are still targeting horses, in the hills, having cleared them off the easy areas... Beats me!
Gees.
We are for saving horses, but we are not stupid, sensible country people, we care for the land. As those before us. It is our life.
The land is not a different place to what is was in some respects (few)- if some ferals have been there time out of mind, and is doing no percievable damage ( "weeds" - hey, white man brought weeds, farmers propagate them, even although they try not to... blame the victim.) Victoria? Pristine wilderness?! Australia, pristine?
If any one animal or plant is out of control, meaning, destroying those about it, sure, eliminate or control it. But we have not pristine environments - never - we walked into another people's land. Invaded, took it, and put our weeds and animals there. We have to honour the people, the place, and honour ourselves, all of us together, as now we are one mob; and honour the environment which copes with the past, the interim, the future. If horses are not doing damage, if they're in few numbers, (and they always will be in the wild), if they are controlling introduced weeds - the botanical version of ferals - then take a common sense approach.
Get them off itf it's worry, but gees, after 150 years of stealing land and horses on it, why kill the horses when there's no proven need to>>?? their reasons are not scientifically proven - bring on the science, it might learn them a thing or two.
It is not difficult. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
If they want easy, big, Govt bucks by doing these "studies" (where is the science etc), earn it, by doing it the right way. Take all things into account, and then wisely, make a decision. If horses need to be removed, there are better ways then destruction. Then, when you want your weeds and little animals safe - foxes controlled, write another paper, and discover --- weeds, foxes and cats are not so easy to shoot. As those big things, horses. And those others will become profligate, and thank you,and become a horrific problem.....
Even we can wear common sense... if the horses are so damaging, and need moving, sure, can panic and find a way.., but ain't that the perogative of the owners to do this properly- The Queen and the Govt? to re-locate the horses? Find them homes? On, oh, farmers land - oh gee, wasn't that pristine once? Wasn't Melbourne also???!!! The Govt solution is the final one, of all stupid Govt's - kill em quick.
Personally, not holding my breath for common sense from any Govt Dept. Maybe I am wrong. I hope so....

There was a programme on the ABC last night about the horses of the Camargue region in the Rhone delta, France. Today, horses there are co-existing with the "natural" environment and also providing the main source of income for the area.
Horses and cattle were previously removed from that area as a habitat conservation exercise, then had to be re-introduced when the same environment proceeded to disintegrate as a result of their removal.
The environment had adapted over time in such a manner that the "native" and introduced species had become mutually reliant.
The Kaolado Ghana National Park, Bharatur, India. a World Heritage Site... Isle of Rhum Nature Reserve, Inner Hebredes .... and many other sites have experienced similarly.

Anyone know what's happening?? re the horses? Any Vic Aboriginals want to let us know how they feel - with regard to your lands and tribal areas - also anyone else who have rights, knowledge, self and ancestral binds to the area? People who belong know more than anyone, and I am an outsider, just trying to find out the facts. I wish others would do this here - but common courtesty does not enter an empire's mind. In fact, cannot.
Be interesting to see if they are shooting feral cats and foxes and targeting weeds - also invaders, yet far more damaging, it seems the solution is to kill the benign and helpless, not the malignant.

ANY NEWS!!!!!!!!!!!! even if you work for the govt...please
time is short
the animals are the peolpe, where you live

Speaking to Gatekeeper this morning, it appears the brief has stated shooting the horses is not a solution at this point in time. Might it be that the fiasco of the poor Guy Fawkes horses is being remembered??

Also, it appears a Victorian Brumby group based near Gatekeeper has said that they'll take the horses. Gatekeeper has been attempting to contact this group so hopefully he'll have more information soon.

Talked to Vic. Brumby Assn. http://www.victorianbrumbyassociation.org/AboutUs.html
today. They are trying to get all Australian groups interested in the preservation of the Brumby horses - irrespective of their "niche" under various names and priorities - together as one collective voice in order to have some influence and clout.
Irrespective of each groups individual priorities, definitions, methods and criteria it is of major importance that we support each other if we are to get the numbers together to have a voice to be reckoned with. As an example, "trail riders" be they riding Standardbred, Donkey, Arabian or whatever can have a collective influence - they are all trailriders !
As horselovers, be our primary interest Walers, Brumbies, or Mules, mutual support is imperative.
As Australians, we must also support our hard earned heritage, be it outback dunnies, ANZAC, or our working companions of the past.
The vast majority of our original horses that we define as Walers were saved from "Brumby" mobs - those that date back to the original Walers not influenced by subsiquent imports. There may still be isolated instances of such horses out there amongst isolated Brumby mobs. Even if not, we can still recognise the rights and worth of others in their own right.
So if we all support each other, we can not only further our own aims but assist others in theirs also - it is all part of our heritage in one way or another and will be sacrificed by the academic, opportunistic and self serving bureaucrats unless we stand up together and be counted.
All these horses have served, battled for survival, and earned their right to dignity and consideration. It's an act of cowardice for the "armchair generals" to sit back and direct the destruction of these horses by the most expedient and inhumane means when they are not the ones out there pulling the trigger and witnesing the blood and distress.
As a group of people with similar interests in heritage and the humane treatment of animals we must get together to insist that those interested be given the opportunity to provide alternatives to destruction for these horses. A managed nuclius of " Brumbies" should be maintained in specific areas for the future as part of our heritage.
Whatever cannot be preserved must at the very least be treated in a humane and considerate manner - and areal shooting is neither. It is barbaric, obcsene, in contradiction with civilised behaviour. That is why it is banned by all authorities that posess a mediocum of sensetivity, concience and consideration. What is happening in Queensland at the moment ? You guessed it in one.