Released 07/05/2019
Several nature reserves and adjacent territory land will be closed from Tuesday 7 May, from late afternoon until early morning each day, to allow a conservation cull of Eastern Grey Kangaroos.
Sites will re-open from Friday 26 July, or earlier if the program is completed sooner.
“Kangaroos are an integral part of the ecosystems around Canberra. The conservation cull of up to 4076 Eastern Grey Kangaroos from Canberra Nature Park reserves protects biodiversity and maintains kangaroo populations at appropriate levels to minimise impacts on other plants and animals in critical grassland and woodland sites,” the Director of ACT Parks and Conservation Service, Daniel Iglesias, said.
“The cull this year will be the largest undertaken in the history of the program in terms of numbers and sites to be targeted. This is due to prevailing dry conditions across Canberra Nature Park which have resulted in a decrease in grassy habitat across many of our reserves.
“Given the lack of rain, if we don’t cull the kangaroos humanely now, many will starve to death during winter and the quality of the habitat for other species that rely on the ground level vegetation will deteriorate.
“Our ecologists have used the best current scientific knowledge to analyse the status of each reserve’s population, the amount and type of vegetation, rainfall and other relevant factors to determine the numbers to be culled to support conservation outcomes.
"While nobody likes culling kangaroos, it is currently the most humane method of population management available to the ACT Government as a responsible land manager.”
Mr Iglesias said the conservation cull would strictly 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 during culling operations.
“Unfortunately, cull protesters sometimes vandalise or remove warning signs, putting the public in danger. I urge anyone seeing this, or other, illegal activity to report it to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or Access Canberra on 13 22 81.”
Fourteen sites will be closed to the public while culling operations take place. High public use reserves will have shortened closure times to lessen community disruption. This year all reserves will be open to the public from Friday morning to Sunday afternoon to allow unimpeded recreational access over the busy weekend periods.
Closed Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday from 3pm to 9am the following morning: Callum Brae Nature Reserve, Crace Nature Reserve, East Jerrabomberra Grasslands, West Jerrabomberra Grasslands, Goorooyarroo Nature Reserve, Gungaderra Nature Reserve, Kama Nature Reserve, Mulligans Flat Nature Reserve, Mulanggari Grasslands and The Pinnacle Nature Reserve.
Closed Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday from 6pm to 8am the following morning: Mount Mugga Mugga Nature Reserve, Isaacs Ridge Nature Reserve, Mount Majura Nature Reserve and Mount Ainslie Nature Reserve.
Further information and more detailed closure times are available from www.environment.act.gov.au.
A media stand-up will be conducted at the base of Mt Majura
When: 10.30am – 11.00am, Tuesday 7 May 2019
Where: The corner of Tay Street and Ian Nicol Street, Watson, at the base of Mt Majura
Who: ACT Parks and Conservation Executive Branch Manager Daniel Iglesias, Conservation Research Director Margaret Kitchin, Friends of Mt Majura Parkcare leader Waltraud Pix
- Statement ends -
ACT Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate | Media Releases
Media Contacts
| Name | Phone | Mobile | |
|---|---|---|---|
Christopher Clarke |
(02) 6207 1587 |
0422 660 867 |
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