- Lovisa ‘Kiki’ Sjoberg missing in the Snowy Mountains
- Brumby photographer and activist last spoke on October 8.
- The Brumby movement prays that the 48-year-old is safe and healthy
The search for an award-winning photographer and conservationist from Brumby has intensified after she went missing in the Snowy Mountains of New South Wales 10 days ago.
Lovisa ‘Kiki’ Sjoberg’s last contact with another person was on October 8, but she was seen a week later driving her gray Mitsubishi Outlander rental car.
Alarm bells for the 48-year-old, from nearby Jinabyne, who has photographed for Harpers Bizarre magazine, went off on Monday when car rental staff realized her rental car was six days late.
It was found open and abandoned near Kiandra Courthouse, 90 kilometers northwest of Cooma, the capital of the Snowy Mountains.
It had remained untouched there for six days after she was last seen alive behind the wheel of the car in Kosciuszko National Park around 7am on October 15.
Although they are familiar with the local alpine landscape, concerned friends say Ms Sjoberg’s disappearance is out of character and they are “praying she is found safe and well”.
Police and National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) officers have been searching for trails in the six-square-kilometre national park, known for its waterfalls and limestone gorges.
Lovisa ‘Kiki’ Sjoberg, 48, did not return her rental car and has not been seen since October 15, driving her vehicle in the Snowy Mountains, where a major search for her is intensifying.
Michelle and Ian Brown posted photos of the search in Kosciuszko National Park (above) for their friend and wild horse conservation colleague and personally toured the area alongside police and NPWS officers.
Their rental vehicle was discovered unlocked in the remains of the ancient settlement of Kiandra, an abandoned gold mining town.
NSW Police have deployed specialist alpine officers, a helicopter, mountain bikes, rescue teams and volunteer firefighters experienced in night and rugged terrain searches.
Fellow Brumby photographers and wild horse activists Michelle Maree Brown and Ian Brown They have published alerts on social networks and stated that Ms. Sjoberg “knows the country and walks around the KNP all the time.”
The couple coordinated with police on search and rescue on foot and quad bikes, and personally searched remote and difficult territories.
Brown posted on Facebook that he had “toured” the land forgotten by time, adding that it’s steep and treacherous out there, and anyone could easily get into trouble.
‘From there I walked to ‘the corner’ and toured that area. ‘I ended up doing 26.5 kilometers (just a very small area that I know of),’ he added.
He said two other friends ‘went around other areas that KiKi frequented, also for hours and hours. It’s a big place. Let’s keep our fingers crossed that she’s okay.”
The missing woman is a local hero of the “save the brumbies” movement since she found and photographed the bodies of a mob of 11 wild horses.
Kiki Sjoberg’s unlocked rental vehicle was found in the heritage village of Kiandra, but there was no sign of the 48-year-old and volunteers are now helping to search the often difficult and steep terrain.
Ms Sjoberg found and photographed the bodies of a mob of 11 wild horses mysteriously shot to death in September 2022.
Mysteriously shot to death in September 2022, the mob was a family led by a brumby stallion the Browns called Arrow Boy, and included a pregnant mare.
A helicopter, mountain bikes and all-terrain vehicles are being used to locate Ms Sjoberg.
Members of the brumby group praised the Browns for working on the search for Ms Sjoberg with NPWS, sometimes suspected of shooting dead brumbies to target non-native animals.
Mrs. Sjoberg is Caucasian in appearance, with an olive complexion, black hair and brown eyes.
His renowned work includes photographs he took of Snowy Mountains landscapes covered in red smoke during the 2019-2020 wildfire season.
Ms Sjoberg’s personal Instagram account has been set to private along with her Brunby Strong Instagram photography account.
NSW Police have urged “anyone with information to contact Monaro Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.”