WARNING: Distressing content
A major investigation has been launched after hundreds of dead horses were found at a property in the NSW Riverina region.
More than 500 horse carcasses were found in a dry creek bed at the property, near Wagga Wagga.
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Wagga Wagga City Council said it was working with NSW Police to investigate the deaths of the horses.
“Once the inspection of the property commenced, it became clear that the slaughtering of horses had been occurring for a long period of time,” it said.
“Numerous separate dumps of carcasses were discovered at locations throughout the property.”
“Once the extent of the operation had been identified, NSW Police and other State Government agencies began collecting evidence for possible offences and regulatory actions under a range of NSW State Government legislation.”
Some of the horses were no more than skeletal remains, while others appeared to have been killed relatively recently, the council added.
Racehorses theory
Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses campaign director Elio Celotto said the advocacy group had recently received a tip off about a possible illegal knackery at a property in Wagga Wagga.
A knackery is a facility where animals are killed for pet food or the making of animal by-products used in pet food.
Celotto said he believes the tip off could refer to the property where the dead horses were found on Wednesday.
He claimed the majority of the horses at the property were racehorses.
“We recently received a tip from an eyewitness about an illegal knackery at a property in Wagga Wagga, which we believe must be the same property,” he claimed.
“The eyewitness confirmed that the majority of the approximately twenty horses kept in holding yards on the property at the time were racehorses.
“Racing NSW have banned racehorses from being sent directly to slaughter,” Celotto said.
Investigations are ongoing.