It has been estimated that Australia has 400,000 feral horses, most of whom are found in central and northern Australia.
In such large numbers they are known to cause erosion, spread weeds and compete for pasture with native animals and livestock. Managing feral horses is a complex management problem in that they can have economic and cultural value, as well as touching on people’s horror of mass culling.
For travellers seeing feral animals such as horses in the wild here in Australia, can be an exciting experience. Following photos are of feral horses (Equus caballus) in Hermannsburg, NT.
- Scientific classification
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Mammalia
- Order: Perissodactyla
- Family: Equidae
- Genus: Equus
- Species: E. caballus
Footnote & References
- Feral horse (Equus caballus) and feral donkey (Equus asinus), Australian Government, Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, 2011, https://www.awe.gov.au/biosecurity-trade/invasive-species/publications/factsheet-feral-horse-equus-caballus-and-feral-donkey-equus-asinus
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