Gruesome discovery of 500 ‘butchered’ horses prompts major investigation
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Content Warning: This article contains descriptions of animal deaths that some might find upsetting. Reader discretion is advised.
The serene landscapes and the rugged beauty of rural New South Wales were recently marred by a discovery that sent shockwaves through the community.
Authorities are now conducting an investigation after uncovering over 500 horse carcasses dumped in a dry creek bed on a property.
The Wagga Wagga City Council, in conjunction with a multi-agency task force including NSW Police, the NSW Food Authority, Local Land Services, the Department of Primary Industries (DPI), and Racing NSW, has launched a major investigation into this harrowing find.
The scale of the atrocity has prompted an urgent response, with officials working tirelessly to piece together how such a large number of horses met their tragic end.
A spokesperson for the Wagga Wagga City Council confirmed the grim count: 'in excess of 500 carcasses.'
The discovery was made following reports that horses had been butchered on the property, leading to a coordinated effort to enter the property and assess the situation.
‘Initially, the focus of the investigation was to confirm whether the carcasses had been left in the dry creek bed and possible offences under the Protection of the Environment Operations Act,’ a spokesperson said.
It was reported that a container with horse meat was found on the property, and it was allegedly part of a possible illegal knackery operation.
The operator contested the council’s claims regarding the quantity of horses discovered. They maintained that there were 15 to 20 carcasses on their property, which they had killed for the purpose of making pet food for their own animals, rather than for commercial use.
However, as the inspection unfolded, it became evident that this was not an isolated incident.
The slaughtering of horses ‘had been occurring for a long period of time’, with multiple sites across the property used to discard the remains.
The spokesperson detailed the chilling scene: 'Numerous separate dumps of carcasses were discovered at locations throughout the property.’
‘Some of these carcasses were no more than skeletal remains while others were killed relatively recently,’ they added.
The extent of the operation has prompted NSW Police and other state government agencies to begin collecting evidence for possible offences and regulatory actions under a range of NSW State Government legislation.
According to a statement released by the NSW DPI, the department is currently investigating potential offences under the Food Act 2003 related to the operation of an unlicensed meat business.
Reportedly, officers have confiscated 300kg of meat that is believed to be connected to the knackery operation.
The NSW Environment Protection Authority has also confirmed its awareness of the reports and is likely to participate in the ongoing investigation.
What are your thoughts on this distressing discovery, members? Share your views in the comments below.
The serene landscapes and the rugged beauty of rural New South Wales were recently marred by a discovery that sent shockwaves through the community.
Authorities are now conducting an investigation after uncovering over 500 horse carcasses dumped in a dry creek bed on a property.
The Wagga Wagga City Council, in conjunction with a multi-agency task force including NSW Police, the NSW Food Authority, Local Land Services, the Department of Primary Industries (DPI), and Racing NSW, has launched a major investigation into this harrowing find.
The scale of the atrocity has prompted an urgent response, with officials working tirelessly to piece together how such a large number of horses met their tragic end.
Over 500 horse corpses were found dumped in a creek in NSW. Image source: Unsplash
A spokesperson for the Wagga Wagga City Council confirmed the grim count: 'in excess of 500 carcasses.'
The discovery was made following reports that horses had been butchered on the property, leading to a coordinated effort to enter the property and assess the situation.
‘Initially, the focus of the investigation was to confirm whether the carcasses had been left in the dry creek bed and possible offences under the Protection of the Environment Operations Act,’ a spokesperson said.
It was reported that a container with horse meat was found on the property, and it was allegedly part of a possible illegal knackery operation.
The operator contested the council’s claims regarding the quantity of horses discovered. They maintained that there were 15 to 20 carcasses on their property, which they had killed for the purpose of making pet food for their own animals, rather than for commercial use.
However, as the inspection unfolded, it became evident that this was not an isolated incident.
The slaughtering of horses ‘had been occurring for a long period of time’, with multiple sites across the property used to discard the remains.
The spokesperson detailed the chilling scene: 'Numerous separate dumps of carcasses were discovered at locations throughout the property.’
‘Some of these carcasses were no more than skeletal remains while others were killed relatively recently,’ they added.
The extent of the operation has prompted NSW Police and other state government agencies to begin collecting evidence for possible offences and regulatory actions under a range of NSW State Government legislation.
According to a statement released by the NSW DPI, the department is currently investigating potential offences under the Food Act 2003 related to the operation of an unlicensed meat business.
Reportedly, officers have confiscated 300kg of meat that is believed to be connected to the knackery operation.
The NSW Environment Protection Authority has also confirmed its awareness of the reports and is likely to participate in the ongoing investigation.
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