1 November 2013

This will be run in consultation with Aboriginal Lands Trust, Kimberley Land Council and the local Aboriginal communities to ensure a situation such as the Lake Gregory horse cull is a one-off situation.

The plan will look across remote parts of our state to identify feral animal populations that have the potential to build up to damaging levels and implement plans to manage any issues in the early stages before a crisis occurs.

"The RSPCA agreed to provide recommendations on the most humane form of control of the Lake Gregory horses on the basis of a guarantee, from the government, that a long-term management plan was put in place so that another operation of this scale would not happen in the future," RSPCA WA President, Mrs Lynne Bradshaw said.

"All other options were assessed and considered, including transportation of the horses but these options would have subjected the horses to undue stress and injury.

"Last year, the RSPCA was deeply concerned upon receiving reports of hundreds of horses dying slow and agonising deaths in Balgo after becoming stuck in mud. This situation should never have been allowed to reach crisis point.

"RSPCA looks forward to working with the state government and all stakeholder groups in regional WA to put the necessary steps in place to avoid future animal welfare disasters of this scale," Mrs Bradshaw said.