Seven nature reserves will be closed from June 9 until July 23 as the ACT government begins the annual kangaroo cull with 1336 animals in the cross-hairs this year.

The government says scientists and land managers with decades of experience in ecology, land management  and kangaroo management have calculated an “operational target” of 1,336 kangaroos to be removed across the seven priority reserves.

“Canberrans can be reassured about the scientific rigour and high quality of the Kangaroo Management Program following the release of the independent review of the program by wildlife ecologist Prof Sarah Legge,” said the ACT’s Conservator of Flora and Fauna, Bren Burkevics.

“Prof Legge has concluded that the Kangaroo Management Program is an outstanding exemplar of adaptive management and far-exceeds the animal welfare requirements of the National Code of Practice for non-commercial kangaroo shooting.

“Professor Legge’s conclusions mirror the assessment of the independent animal welfare assessment conducted in 2023 that confirmed the kangaroo management program complies with the national code of practice in all aspects and that current shooting protocols should be maintained.

“No time is being wasted to implement the valued recommendations of Professor Legge to further strengthen what is a high quality and necessary kangaroo management program. This includes increasing the involvement of ACT Government veterinarians in the program and updating our communication materials to provide even more clarity and transparency for the community.

“The use of the GonaCon Immunocontraceptive Vaccine has been a successful addition to the program and will continue for the third year in a row. We expect the fertility control program will over time reduce to the need for kangaroos to be humanely culled in the future.”

Mr Burkevics said the Kangaroo Management Program’s objective was to manage and protect the ACT’s threatened natural temperate grasslands and grassy woodlands from overgrazing by kangaroos. 

“The ACT’s natural temperate grasslands are some of the best quality in Australia but with about only 0.5 per cent remaining they must be protected and managed to ensure they continue to provide optimum habitat for endangered plants and animals,” he said.

“These grasslands and grassy woodlands provide habitat and protection to a wide range of plants and animals that are local to Canberra some of which are on the road to extinction if these ecosystems are overgrazed and become degraded.

“Pleasing results are emerging that the annual delivery of the Kangaroo Management Program is leading to grass heights and densities across the ACT’s parks and reserves that are closer to targets that provide optimum habitat for endangered plants and animals.”

The following reserves will be formally closed under the Nature Conservation Act 2014 from Sunday June 9 to Tuesday July 23 from 6pm to 6am from Sunday to Thursday each week and will remain open over the weekends from Friday morning to Sunday evening.

·        Goorooyarroo Nature Reserve

·        Gungaderra Grasslands

·        Mt Ainslie Nature Reserve

·        Mt Majura Nature Reserve

·        Mulanggari Grasslands

·        Mulligans Flat Nature Reserve

·        Red Hill Nature Reserve