MATAGI (LEGOLAS)

A National Treasure. A truly wild Snowy Mountains brumby.

A tribute t-shirt with proceeds donated to the Wild Beauty Foundation.

And to wear in solidarity with Australians calling for transparency and humane management of their wild horses.

A special thank you to Wild Beauty founder Ashley Avis for traveling to Australia to document the aerial culling of Australia?s brumbies

Matagi was a protective father who died beside his young daughter with other heritage brumbies found shot that NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service says were not killed as part of its authorized aerial cull.

Humane management should withstand transparency.

The Invasive Species Council?s campaigner Jack Gough publicly opposed Ashley?s presence in Australia.

His campaigns on "How to Get People to Accept Lethal Control of Invasive Species" including shooting horses from helicopters ? presents research that relies on one condition:

That people believe aerial culling is humane.

Saying aerial culling is humane does not make it humane.

It should withstand Animal Welfare Science studying wounds and escape behavior, it should welcome journalists such as Ashley Avis to document, it should allow first-hand accounts in the field such as a former helicopter shooter who said, "I've shot deer, pigs and rabbits from helicopters, but horses are different," describing the method as "inhumane."

Equal discussion should also be given to humane management solutions that exist.

In memory of Matagi and condolences to those who documented his life over many years as a lead stallion of quiet strength devoted to his family in the snowy mountains that shaped him - the only home he ever knew.