Traditional owners of four Aboriginal land trusts west of Alice Springs gave consent to cull feral horses while a community meeting at Ltyentye Apurte (Santa Teresa) agreed how to safely dispose of horse carcasses, says a media release from the Central Land Council (CLC).
It will organise an aerial cull in an area of 3,182 square kilometre which is expected to cost at least $19,000 “to alleviate the suffering of other feral horses near the remote community”.
CLC staff will be providing ground support to the Parks and Wildlife Service.
“Traditional owners were concerned about the feral horses’ poor condition and their impact on native animals, country and infrastructure,” says the release.
Meanwhile, a community meeting at Ltyentye Apurte this morning decided to move the bodies of horses (pictured) that previously perished near a waterhole, about 20 kilometres from the community, “to an area where they will not present a biohazard”.
Last Friday, the CLC culled more than 50 feral horses after its Aboriginal ranger team found 90 dead and dying brumbies at a waterhole a day earlier.
The meeting participants, including residents, a local Aboriginal corporation and the MacDonnell Regional Council, agreed with traditional owners of the Santa Teresa Aboriginal Land Trust who want to “let the sun do its work” rather than to bury or burn the bodies, says the release.
“They agreed to work together on a long-term management plan to attempt to avoid mass feral animal deaths in the future.
“Last year the CLC sought additional resources to help traditional owners in the Ltyentye Apurte, Ntaria, Tennant Creek and Ti Tree regions to develop ‘Healthy Country’ management plans.
“It expects the NT government to honour its commitment to contribute $200,000 towards these plans, which would be developed with the relevant traditional owners,” says the release.
“The plans would help Aboriginal rangers to manage feral animal numbers and enable traditional owners to muster and sell healthy animals.
“More emergency culls are likely on Aboriginal land, following weeks of temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius.
“Horses and other feral animals are dying of thirst and hunger because water sources are depleted and overpopulation has led to erosion and vegetation loss.”
Friday, April 19, 2024
The freedom of the press still furnishes that check upon government which no constitution has ever been able to provide – Chicago Tribune.
It has been brought to the attention of Central Land Council lawyer Robert Gosford months ago that donkeys are being let loose by Alan Martin on Athenge Hlere Land Trust, breeding and running wild, looking for food and water.
On January 23 Jonathon Conway and I met with Robert on other issues.
At the meet I produced photos of donkeys near my fence trying to get in looking for food and water.
My dogs hunted them out of our yard.
When seeing the photos Robert said Alan was told to round up and get rid of the donkeys.
Jonathon asked who gave Alan permission to have these animals for he did not consult the proper traditional owners, the Conway and Steven Families.
Like Robert Gosford keeps saying, all traditional owners need to be involved.
Alan is doing what he likes and does not belong to the land.
Jonathon made a serious comment that they want our land back and these people to be moved off.
Should they not get rid of these poor animals? Another saga of Santa Teresa.
Yesterday I rang CLC at 8.52am and spoke with Bonita, secretary of the General Manager Nigel Graves to complain that nothing is being done about this awful situation.
Same crap … in meeting … get in touch with Joe Martin Jard.
Bonita told me Joe was out bush, not told how long.
Last month I rang the RSPCA spoke to a bloke said he was going to see Alan – no feedback.
About five months ago there were four donkeys now there are about 20 breeding well if not someone is releasing more to roam.
Cruelty to dumb animals.
[ED – We are inviting the CLC to comment.]
Geewiz Russell, obviously Jonathon didn’t tell you that he knew that the donkeys were on the land, which is our end of the land, so who cut the fence?
And what were you doing on the Wambodin side of the fence?
The actual owner the donkeys had a court order to removed over 60 of them from the property, which he had done, and the Conway family had known all about this.
The last count of the donkeys were eight and were grazing on the Wambodin side.
If you and the Conway and Stevens men have a problem go and speak to Allan. His gates are open.