By ERWIN CHLANDA
Hundreds of horses are starving to death on Aboriginal communities north-east of Alice Springs, according to a resident who provided information and photographs on condition of not being named.
The informant says some of the animals have access to water but many have died near a trough because they have nothing to eat.
Their rotting carcasses in close proximity to residences are a serious health hazard.
Many horses hang around homes on communities including Mulga Bore and Angula, damaging buildings.
The Central Land Council (CLC) has sent out two A4 sized notices to residents, with dead horses pictured near houses, asking the residents to get in touch with CLC about the problem.
The informant says the recent dying of horses near Santa Theresa pales into insignificance compared to the problems in the Gem Tree area on the Plenty Highway where some 250 animals are either dead or dying.
The resident says the problem started about a year ago when culling ought to have started, and when there was even an opportunity to sell the horses.
None of that has happened and the situation is getting much worse.
The News is seeking comment from the CLC and the Department of Primary Industry and Resources.
UPDATE 4pm
The Department of Primary Industry and Resources provided this statement:-
Aboriginal Land Rights Act land is managed by the landowners, in conjunction with the Central Land Council.
The Department of Primary Industry and Resources is aware of this situation and is liaising with the CLC to manage the response.
The department’s Livestock Biosecurity Officers may visit indigenous lands as part of investigations or if required to assist with issues or concerns in relation to livestock.
It is always concerning and distressing when any animals have died, especially in a manner such as this.
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.
This is a terrible situation. And not a vegan in sight.
As with camels, goats, pigs, cats, foxes and dogs they are ignoring the science.
A friend use the natural pheromones of a mating female to aggregate and shoot foxes in SA 50 years ago when skins were highly priced.
The animal lovers in Europe soon shot that down to the detriment of our local natives.
He built a unit at Surfers with the proceeds.
Together with Nicholas Rothwell and Peter Cave we witnessed perhaps 1000 camels gathered for the same reason north of Lake Eyre 10 years ago and I have since seen the same thing on the Sandy Blight road.
I have had the same experience in aggregating feral goats on the SA/NSW border, and many of us have experienced dingos howling for a mate.
We don’t need helicopters, but a basic understanding and the application of their natural mating behaviour.
But on many matters we close our eyes and minds.
A useful addition to CDU would be to commission this work to be done by the CRC unit for feral animal control currently based in Tasmania, as I remember it.
There, of course, are plenty of feral dogs, camels, donkeys, pigs, horses and pigs (Sic) but far more votes.
One suspects that Mr Shiell is well meaning.
Unfortunately his comment is incoherent and incomprehensible as usual.
If it relates to use of pheromones for mustering animals (a possible interpretation) it is off topic, irrelevant, and ignorant of animal behaviour.
Around Australia corporate or natural persons as land owners, managers or others are prosecuted, found negligent and penalties are applied.
Other than racial prejudice, why are these relevant corporate land-owners (Land Trusts), their relevant corporate property managers (Land Councils), their relevant executive management boards, or other relevant individuals not prosecuted?
Frequently applied is the legal principle that ignorance of the law is no excuse.