In Kosciuszko National Park, Australia, the recent reduction of feral horse populations—from about 17,000 to 3,000 through culling and policy changes—has begun to alleviate significant ecological damage caused by these invasive animals. Feral horses have long degraded the alpine environment by trampling vegetation, compacting fragile peat soils, and damaging waterways, which harms native species and disrupts water catchments vital to the Murray–Darling Basin. The removal of legal protections for horses and their management as invasive species now allows for more consistent control efforts, aiming to balance ecological restoration with heritage concerns.

Early observations indicate that native vegetation is slowly regrowing in previously trampled areas, creek banks are stabilizing, and fewer horses on roads improve visitor safety. However, recovery of the delicate alpine ecosystem will be gradual, potentially taking decades due to slow plant growth and lingering impacts from past disturbances. The current management plan, maintaining a reduced horse population until 2027, offers a critical opportunity for the park’s long-term ecological recovery and the restoration of habitats essential for native wildlife.