The Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate is to partially close a number of nature reserves and nearby Territory land from next Monday to 27 July to undertake the annual cull of kangaroos.
The projected tally for the cull this year is 3,253 Eastern Grey Kangaroos, made up of 1,822 from reserves across the ACT and up to 1,431 from Googong Foreshores.
Announcing the cull details, Director of the ACT Parks and Conservation Service, Daniel Iglesias said it was needed to maintain kangaroo populations at appropriate levels to minimise impacts on other plants and animals in critical grassland and woodland sites.
Mr Iglesias said the closures would take place from late afternoon until early morning each day. He said the sites might be able to be fully reopened before 27 July if the program was completed sooner.
He said special opening hours would be in place for Mulligans Flat Woodlands Sanctuary to allow the popular night-time tours there to continue.
“While nobody likes culling kangaroos, it is currently the most humane method of population management available,” Mr Iglesias said.
“Our cull is closely monitored by vets.
“Our research into the use of a fertility control vaccine as a potential non-lethal approach to kangaroo management is showing positive preliminary results but is not an easy or quick solution.”
He said several more years of monitoring the treated animals would be needed before it could conclusively be said it was an effective and practical form of population management.
Mr Iglesias said the conservation cull would closely adhere to the National Code of Practice for the Humane Shooting of Kangaroos and Wallabies for Non-Commercial Purposes.
“To help improve public safety and detect illegal activity, warning signs will be placed at all entry points to the reserves, surveillance cameras used and reserves patrolled by Parks and Conservation Service staff,” Mr Iglesias said.
