After an extended closure that commenced two months prior to the 2024 winter, the northern Kosciuszko National Park is now open for visitors.
The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) closes much of this northern section of the park to traffic every winter, while parts of the national park are covered in snow. This closure does not affect any of the resort precincts which remain open for tourism and recreational activities including skiing and snowboarding.
This year’s closure started two months early to enable implementation of measures under the Wild Horse Heritage Management Plan, as well as the control of pigs, deer and other feral animals.
During the closure the NPWS conducted aerial and ground culling of wild horses, deer and pigs.
“The control program is designed to protect the globally significant conservation values in Kosciuszko National Park, including a suite of threatened native plants and animals,” said a spokesperson for the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.
“All control operations have been conducted in accordance with the highest animal welfare standards.”
“It is standard practice when undertaking feral animal control on public and private land for carcasses to be left to decompose where the animal was shot.
“However, additional measures are implemented in Kosciuszko National Park to move horse carcasses away from waterways and key visitor areas wherever practical.
“Visitors may still encounter deer, pig or horse carcasses. These carcasses do not present a risk to the public provided they are left alone.”
Some carcasses may also be apparent in central and southern areas of Kosciuszko National Park. Recent ground shooting operations around Geehi Camping area saw the removal of significant numbers of deer.
Up until May 2024, over 5000 horses have been culled in Kosciuszko. The Snowy Mountains Magazine has requested an updated number from the winter culling which was not provided at time of posting this story.
If you are concerned about the location of animal carcasses, their location can be reported to NPWS via email at
npws.wildhorses@environment.nsw.gov.au.
Visit Northern Kosciuszko
Visitors to Kosciuszko National Park will be able to enjoy key areas such as the Currango Homestead, campgrounds around Blue Waterholes, Long Plain and Tantangara areas as well as facilities adjacent to the Snowy Mountains Highway.
The Brumbies of Kosciuszko have always been a contentious debate as to their survival. The Kosciuszko National Park Wild Horse Heritage Management Plan requires 3,000 wild horses to be retained in 32 per cent of the park to protect their heritage value. The NSW state government are required to reduce the brumby total to 3000 by 2027.
Brumbies were sighted on the Kiandra Plains in mid-September, a mob of up to 30 brumbies including young foals were relatively close to the Snowy Mountains Highway.
Further updates on Kosciuszko National Park can be found via the NPWS website including up to date alerts.
See previous article on Brumbies aerial shooting here.
View Long Plain Road and Blue Waterholes story here