An independent review has commended the ACT’s approach to managing kangaroo populations in the Territory. Photo: ACT Government.
An independent scientific review has labelled the ACT’s kangaroo management program “extremely impressive” in balancing ecological needs with humane practices.
Undertaken by wildlife ecologist Professor Sarah Legge, it found the program “far exceeds” the requirements of the National Code for Non-Commercial Kangaroo Shooting.
“The operation and management of the conservation culling program is effective and has put kangaroo welfare at the heart of activities,” she wrote.
“The contracted shooters and ACT Government staff involved in culling strive to improve standards continually.”
The ACT requires shooters to exceed the specifications in the non-commercial code, including requiring them to pass a shooting accuracy test, a test on the code, and a macropod identification test every two years, as well as regulating that shooting is carried out at night, using night-vision and thermal imaging (instead of spotlights), and suppressors on the guns.
It also imposes a culling season during winter, when fewer joeys are expected to be impacted, and restricts culling to reserves where ecological benefits are greatest.
“The ACT favours small, regular (annual) culls, rather than less regular, very large culls. The culling operations aim to bring the population size in reserves down closer to the target densities, then carry out smaller maintenance culls each year instead of less frequent but larger culls,” Professor Legg noted.
“This results in a welfare benefit because fewer animals are killed … when populations are not released to grow exponentially between culls.”
Her report made 34 recommendations to further strengthen the program.
ACT Conservator of Flora and Fauna Bren Burkevics said this report validated the work being done to protect the ACT’s conservation areas and threatened species.
“It’s critical to the protection of the ACT’s threatened Box Gum Woodlands and temperate grasslands,” he said.
“[It] is leading to improved targets across our native temperate grasslands, with a grass height between 5 and 15 cm, which are the target densities.”
Threatened species that live in and depend on the grass layer include the pink-tailed worm lizard, Canberra grassland earless dragon and golden sun moth.
Key recommendations that will be implemented for this year’s program include strengthening communications to the community and increasing the involvement of ACT Government veterinarians.
Mr Burkevics said additional options to utilise carcasses will be explored over the next 12 months, as well as strengthening internal administrative processes.
“The recommendations will allow the new plan to take a more holistic view of kangaroo management across all landscapes and within the context of other land management activities,” he said.
Environment Minister Rebecca Vassarotti said while the nature of the program can be confronting, responsible conservation efforts were an important part of protecting the environment.
“If we don’t control species that are negatively impacting our natural environment, then we would very likely see the decline and possible extinction of our native grassland ecosystems,” she said.
“A good Kangaroo Management Program is a program that undertakes the best animal welfare standards while making sure we manage the impact of species on the precarious balance of our natural ecosystem.”
The recommendations will also be considered as the government develops a new Controlled Native Species Management Plan, which will be open for consultation in early 2025.
It’s come as the next kangaroo cull program has been announced.
The 2024 program targets removing 1336 kangaroos across seven priority reserves.
They will be closed from 9 June to 1 August between 6 pm and 6 am each week. However, they will remain open over the weekends from Friday morning to Sunday evening to allow the community to access the reserves.
The impacted reserves are Goorooyarroo Nature Reserve, Gungaderra Grasslands, Mt Ainslie Nature Reserve, Mt Majura Nature Reserve, Mulanggari Grasslands, Mulligans Flat Nature Reserve and Red Hill Nature Reserve.
The fertility control program will also continue for a third year.
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