Brumby numbers have rebounded in the thousands despite efforts to stop large numbers of the invasive species degrading a famous alpine national park.
Latest estimates reveal there are at least 6476, and as many as 16,411, of the feral horses roaming NSW's Kosciuszko National Park, near the Victorian border.
The 2025 figures released on Friday showed a significant rebound from the year before, which recorded a lower estimate of 2131 and upper number of 5639 horses.
It comes after aerial culling efforts were put on hold in March 2025, following a successful reduction in numbers, amid claims the practice was cruel and resulted in some brumbies being shot and left to die.
Damage to the park's fragile ecosystem by the wild horses remains widespread and won't cease until the animals are essentially removed, some culling advocates say.
