An independent veterinarian has confirmed feral horse control in the Kosciuszko National Park is humane.

The latest assessment was carried out over three days in July when the NSW Government resumed its culling program to reduce Kosciuszko feral horse numbers.

The veterinarian observed 180 horses being pursued during operations in the southern part of the park, with 154 shot and killed.

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No horses were observed escaping with non-fatal wounds, while the median time between the first shot and an animal becoming unconscious was eight seconds, the report states.

CEO of the Invasive Species Council Jack Gough said no animals were found to have regained sensibility.

The council was established in 2002 to campaign governments for stronger laws to protect native plants and animals from harmful pests, and has long called for the removal of brumbies from national parks.

The report found the animal welfare outcomes were comparable to two previous independent veterinary assessments conducted in 2023 and 2024 and concluded the National Parks and Wildlife Service’s standard operating procedure was “fit for purpose”.

Gough said the findings provided further evidence that aerial shooting was being conducted humanely.

“This is now three independent veterinary assessments telling us the same thing: aerial shooting in Kosciuszko National Park is being carried out safely, professionally and humanely, and to high animal welfare standards,” he said.

“No one likes to see animals killed, but the sad reality is that we have a choice to make between urgently reducing feral horse numbers or accepting the continued destruction of sensitive alpine ecosystems and habitats, and the decline and extinction of native animals.”

The report said that aerial shooting was being conducted humanely. Credit: Perry Duffin/AAP

The aerial culling of brumbies in Kosciuszko has been fiercely contested, with opponents raising concerns about animal welfare and repeatedly taking legal action in attempts to stop the program.

The latest findings come days after the NSW Land and Environment Court rejected another attempt to halt feral horse control in the national park.

The court found there was no serious question to be tried and that suspending control measures would allow environmental damage caused by feral horses to continue.

An application by pro-brumby activists seeking an injunction to halt aerial and ground shooting was also rejected in July.

The Kosciuszko Wild Horse Heritage Act was repealed in 2025, but the existing management plan remains in place while a replacement is developed.

The current plan has a target of 3000 horses across designated retention areas covering about 32 per cent of the park.

Feral horses have been blamed for damaging alpine vegetation, waterways and habitat used by threatened native species including the northern corroboree frog, alpine tree frog and mountain pygmy-possum.