Brumby welfare advocates are expressing outrage over a recent New South Wales government initiative that features artwork of wild horses, or brumbies, on limited-edition birth certificates to celebrate the Chinese Year of the Horse. The initiative has been branded 'hypocritical' because it coincides with the government’s ongoing cull of wild horses in the Snowy Mountains area. Critics argue that while the government promotes the beauty of these animals through art, its actions speak to a disregard for the welfare of the horses in the wild.

The artwork, which was showcased in a recent Service NSW social media post as a means of celebrating hope and renewal for the Chinese New Year, has fueled tensions between brumby advocates and the state government. The brumby welfare group argues that using brumbies in this way is disingenuous given the government's controversial policies aimed at reducing the wild horse population, which advocates claim are driven by ecological concerns rather than genuine wildlife management.

In light of the controversy, brumby advocates are hopeful that the uproar could foster a dialogue between them and the government regarding the treatment of wild horses in NSW. While the state government’s culling practices have been a long-standing issue, this incident highlights the broader relationship between wildlife advocacy and governmental policies, potentially pushing for reforms that could lead to better protection for the brumby population in the future.