Victoria's iconic alpine brumbies which were due to be slaughtered today by shooters on behalf of the Victorian Government have won a reprieve.
A last minute legal intervention by an Omeo based Mountain Cattleman, Philip Maguire, has convinced the state government to refrain from embarking on its shooting program until June 1.
Mr Maguire made a last minute application to the Victorian Supreme Court last night to prevent the planned slaughter. The injunction was not required in the end because the government agreed to halt the program pending a court case next Tuesday. Depending upon the outcome of the case the shooting may never happen.
Mr Maguire said his objective was to have brumbies added to the Alpine Heritage List and managed sustainably and humanely. Where numbers were found to be excessive he would favour rehoming the horses.
The brumbies due to be killed were located in the far east of Victoria between the high country town of Benambra and the Snowy River.
Mr Maguire, whose alpine grazing property borders the Bogong unit of the Alpine National Park is also fighting to save the Bogong brumbies from eradication.
He said these horses have an unsurpassed heritage value having a proven genetic link with Walers ridden by the Light Horseman in the Middle East during World War 1.
The Bogong Brumbies are descended from horses bred on the Bogong High Plains by the McNamara and Young families for the Waler trade. The two families used to graze up to 3000 head on the Bogongs and muster up about 600 every year and drive them to the Wodonga Waler Sales. Colts were allowed to breed before being gelded and sold.
Mr Maguire plans to muster the 100 remaining Bogong brumbies and depasture them on his property until the Andrews Government until common sense prevails.
To support Mr Phil Maguire, follow Facebook group 'Rural Resistance' for support action updates, and donate now to: https://www.gofundme.com/f/bogong-brumby-save. Australian's wishing to support the cause are urged to make direct complaints to Minister Lily D'Ambrosio, Minister for Energy, Environment, and Climate Change, Premier Daniel Andrews, as well as Matthew Jackson, Parks Victoria CEO, immediately.
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