BRUMBIES
Equus caballus
DESCRIPTION
Brumbies are free roaming horses descended from domestic horses brought to Australia after European settlement. They vary greatly in size, build and colour. In the tropical north they can often be seen moving through open woodland, grasslands and wetlands.
QUICK FACTS
• The name Brumby is used for free roaming feral horses in Australia.
• They are descendants of domestic horses rather than a native Australian species.
• Brumbies usually live in social groups.
• A group commonly consists of mares, their young and a stallion.
• Foals can stand and walk within hours of being born.
• Horses communicate through sounds, body posture and movement of their ears.
• Large numbers of feral horses can damage sensitive wetlands through grazing and trampling.
WHERE IT LIVES
Brumbies occur in several parts of Australia. In the Top End they may be found around floodplains, wetlands and woodland where fresh water and grasses are available. Feral horses also occur within parts of Kakadu National Park.
WHAT IT EATS
Brumbies are herbivores. They mainly graze on grasses but will also eat other vegetation depending on what is available. They need regular access to fresh water, particularly during the tropical dry season.
PETE'S PHOTO STORY
Finding horses standing belly deep in a tropical wetland is not a scene everyone expects to see in northern Australia. This family group was surrounded by flooded woodland and fresh green grass, with the young foal staying close to the adults. It was a peaceful scene, but it also shows how introduced animals have become part of the landscape and why their impact on fragile wetlands needs to be carefully managed.