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National Park Service Accidentally Kills 5 Domestic Horses in Aerial Cull
15 Oct
Summary
- Parks and Wildlife Service staff accidentally shot and killed 5 domestic horses during an aerial cull
- Incident occurred on Thurloo Downs property, which was in the process of becoming a national park
- NSW Environment Minister Penny Sharpe apologized for the "very unfortunate accident"
On September 2025, the NSW Parks and Wildlife Service (NSPWS) conducted an aerial cull on the Thurloo Downs property, which was in the process of being gazetted as a national park. Tragically, during this operation, NSPWS staff inadvertently shot and killed 5 domestic horses.
NSW Environment Minister Penny Sharpe has admitted to this "unfortunate incident," explaining that the staff were unaware the horses were in the designated shoot area. She stated that NSPWS has apologized for the "very unfortunate accident" and is conducting a further review to ensure such incidents do not happen again.
The Thurloo Downs property, spanning 500,000 hectares, was purchased by the state government in 2023 and was in the process of becoming a national park. Notifications of the cull were provided to the previous owner and neighbors two weeks in advance, but some domestic horses had joined a mob of wild horses, leading to the tragic mix-up.
Nationals MLC Scott Barrett has called the shooting a "tragic incident that never should have happened" and has demanded a full investigation to determine how it occurred and to ensure it never happens again. He also stated that the owner of the horses should receive full compensation, though nothing could truly make up for their loss.
