News location:

Canberra Today 14°/16° | Friday, March 29, 2024 | Digital Edition | Crossword & Sudoku

The roo cull is back on

kangaroos

DIRECTOR of Parks and Conservation Daniel Iglesias is informing the public that a number of nature reserves will be closed from mid to late afternoon until early morning over the coming months to allow a conservation cull of eastern grey kangaroos to take place. The closures will commence from Monday 16 May 2016.

“The conservation cull of up to 1991 eastern grey kangaroos is needed to protect biodiversity and maintain populations at appropriate levels to minimise impacts on other flora and fauna in critical grassland and woodland sites,” Daniel said.

“The numbers to be culled have been based on scientific kangaroo counts in each location. This has been compared to the sustainable carrying capacity for each area that ACT Government ecologists have established by taking into account the habitat requirements of grassland dependent animals and plants.

“Culling of overabundant kangaroos is currently the most humane method of population control available to the ACT Government as a responsible land manager. However a research trial is currently underway into the use of a fertility control vaccine as a potential non-lethal approach to eastern grey kangaroo management. This two-year trial is taking place at several small sites across Canberra.

“Every year we assess the population of eastern grey kangaroos at each site as well as take into account the quality of flora at each site to determine whether culling is required.

“Importantly, we also undertake the conservation cull in conjunction with other land management activities. Weed management and rabbit control is also conducted on each of the nature reserves where culling is being undertaken and ParkCare volunteers provide additional support through hundreds of hours of volunteer work.”

“The conservation cull will be conducted according to the relevant National Code of Practice. Parks and Conservation Service staff will patrol areas to ensure the safety of the public.

“Warning signs will be placed at all entry points to the reserves and surveillance cameras will be used to enhance public safety and detect illegal activity.

“I’d like to urge the public to be vigilant and report any illegal activity at affected nature reserves.

The ten sites to be closed for the conservation cull are Goorooyarroo Nature Reserve, Gungaderra Nature Reserve, Isaacs Ridge Nature Reserve (and adjacent unleased land), Kama Nature Reserve, Mount Majura Nature Reserve (and adjacent unleased land), Mount Mugga Mugga Nature Reserve, Mount Painter Nature Reserve, Mulanggari Nature Reserve, Mulligans Flat Woodland Sanctuary andThe Pinnacle Nature Reserve (and adjacent unleased land).

Goorooyaroo Nature Reserve, Gungaderra Nature Reserve, Kama Nature Reserve and Mulligans Flat Woodland Sanctuary will be closed between 3 pm and 7 am each day. The other sites will be closed from 5 pm to 7 am each day. All sites will be closed from Monday 16 May 2016. Sites will re-open from Monday 1 August 2016 or earlier if the program is completed sooner.

The ACT Government will again be using a proportion of the kangaroo meat to make baits to use in its wild dog and fox control programs.

Further information, including a Question and Answer document, is available from

tams.act.gov.au

[photo courtesy wikipedia]

Who can be trusted?

In a world of spin and confusion, there’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in Canberra.

If you trust our work online and want to enforce the power of independent voices, I invite you to make a small contribution.

Every dollar of support is invested back into our journalism to help keep citynews.com.au strong and free.

Become a supporter

Thank you,

Ian Meikle, editor

Share this

Leave a Reply

Related Posts

Follow us on Instagram @canberracitynews