Merry Christmas Ho Ho Ho.

Army Orders Mass Slaughter For Christmas 10th December 2018 It will not be a Merry Christmas this year for the Brumbies of the Singleton Army Base as the Defence Force orders an aerial cull a week before Christmas. The Hunter Valley Brumby association has condemned the move. “This will be an animal welfare disaster. It is banned in NSW for a very good reason, shooting horses from helicopters is proven to be inhumane. This aerial cull goes against everything written in the SOP’s for aerial culling horses – they are doing it in the heat of summer, there are young foals and pregnant mares” says President Kath Massey. The cull is to be conducted by contracting group BGIS headed by Land and Environment Manager Anthony Carroll. The Hunter Valley Brumby Association recently took in to care 2 very young foals from the base “I just can’t imagine how they think they can shoot something so small and humanely from a helicopter, especially when the Brumbies on the base always take flight in to the trees as soon as they launch any aircraft. They say they will not target mares with foals but the foals will not be able to keep up being chased by helicopters, families will be scattered and foals will lose their mothers” says Massey. “They thought they could sweep it under the rug before Christmas, hoping nobody would find out, but no way do we want a repeat of the disastrous Guy Fawkes slaughter on our door step this Christmas.” Kathryn Massey President
HVBA Inc Po Box 57 Stroud NSW 2425 Email: info@hvba.com.au or call 0409 829 493
Facts and Contacts Regarding the Aerial Cull - The Singleton Army Base has approximately 200 Brumbies that have roamed the area since approximately the 1930’s, long before it was defence land. - The Singleton Army Base is Commonwealth Land and therefore not bound by state law, but federal law. Legally they can aerial cull. - The Brumbies associate aircraft with bombing activities and personnel on the base advise that as soon they do a fly around, all of the Brumbies head for the trees and the hills. - The Hunter Valley Brumby Association has always maintained its stance on aerial culling as inhumane as it is not possible to humanely kill a fast moving animal from a moving platform; it is not accurate and animals are left wounded. - Dates for the cull are the 18th and 19th of December 2018 - The HVBA will be there to obtain any footage possible of the cull, if it goes ahead. - The HVBA was advised this morning that they are doing it now as it is an appropriate time (ie everyone is on leave) despite numerous animal welfare concerns. - Attached is the SOP’s for the aerial culling of horses - The cull will be taking place in an area where they are prohibited to land aircraft – therefore any animals that are wounded and are not able to flee will have to be continually shot until presumed dead. - The area where the cull is set to take place is bordered by a very weak fence and from there the Brumbies can escape on to the highway - Neighbouring properties with sensitive animals (including horses) could be impacted by the helicopters and gun fire. - Aerial culling was banned in NSW in the year 2000, after the disastrous Guy Fawkes National Park aerial cull of more than 600 Brumbies. - NSW RSPCA have been informed of the aerial cull Contacts: Kathryn Massey, Hunter Valley Brumby Association 0409829493 Anthony Carroll, BGIS, 0428031951 Department of Defence Media - 02 6127 1999