Search ramps up in Snowies for experienced bushwalker and brumby advocate

A massive search for a woman reported missing in the NSW alpine region has resumed today with air and ground crews scouring the rugged terrain close to where she left her rental vehicle.

NSW Police aren’t certain how long 48-year-old Lovisa Sjoberg has actually been missing.

She was seen and spoken to on 8 October.

However, police believe she was then last seen driving a grey Mitsubishi Outlander with the NSW registration DF2 5BA at about 7 am on 15 October in the Kosciuszko National Park.

It is understood that an alarm was raised when Ms Sjoberg’s vehicle, a rental, was not returned by the due date.

When she could not be located or contacted, officers attached to Monaro Police District were notified Monday, commencing inquiries into her whereabouts.

Her vehicle was discovered unlocked, at the old settlement of Kiandra, on the Snowy Mountains Highway triggering the joint agency search involving NSW Police, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) and State Emergency Services (SES) on Monday (October 21).

They have been joined by NSW Rural Fire Service volunteers and accomplished members of the local horse-riding community, including fifth-generation mountain cattleman Peter Cochran, who has been leading horse-riding treks in the mountains for 26 years.

Lovisa, known as KiKi, is nationally known for her brumby advocacy, and for the past five years has documented the journey of the many mobs of wild horses that populate Kosciuszko National Park, on her Instagram page “Brumby Strong”.

Fellow photographer and bushwalker Ian Brown says he and KiKi had hiked together and he was in no doubt about her ability to navigate the area, no matter how rugged.

“This isn’t someone who has just wandered into the park with no idea about it at all,” he said. “I think she knows the park better than I do.

“It’s not unusual for KiKi to go off the grid for long periods of time; she enjoys the peace and solitude of the park; she actually gravitates toward more remote places to get away from it all, but what is unusual is that she left her car, with the keys in the ignition, no personal belongings, as it was.”

For that reason he will join the search for KiKi tonight.

“She’s been bitten by a copperhead three times, and she survived, she knows how to handle herself,” he said.

“But there’s places in the park that I know she frequents so I’ll go have a look there,” he said.

NSW Police say they can’t encourage members of the public to assist with their searches in rugged areas, but they are asking people to keep an eye out for anything that might assist.

Lovisa is described as being of Caucasian appearance, with an olive complexion, black hair and brown eyes.

Anyone with information into her whereabouts is urged to contact Monaro Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Original Article published by Edwina Mason on About Regional.