The removal of 711 deer from the Walls of Jerusalem is a critically important step in protecting Tasmania’s Wilderness World Heritage Area, but more action is needed to get the job done.
‘This successful aerial cull is a substantial achievement and highlights the importance of using this method for deer control. Ground shooting alone cannot achieve the impressive numbers of an aerial operation like this,’ said Invasive Species Council conservation officer Dr Tiana Pirtle.
‘It is vitally important that pressure is maintained to eradicate deer from the world heritage areas and managed in surrounding areas to stop any reinvasion risk.
‘Worryingly, the cull revealed there are more than twice as many deer as estimated. Initial estimates put the population at 300 but with more than 700 shot during the aerial cull, the population is clearly larger than initially thought.
‘This alarming discovery signifies a larger and more established population than previously believed, meaning greater efforts may be needed to fully eradicate deer from beyond the Walls of Jerusalem.
‘The Tasmanian government must prioritise deer control and ensure sufficient funds are available to finish the job.
‘Feral deer continue to be protected in the bordering regions. This booming population poses an ongoing threat of reinvasion.
‘We wrote to UNESCO earlier this month highlighting the major risk feral deer pose to the Tasmania Wilderness World Heritage Area. Ongoing protection of feral deer in the surrounding region threatens to undo all the progress achieved through this aerial cull.
‘The government must reverse the partly protected status of deer, recognising and managing them for the invasive species they are,’ said Dr Pirtle.