The Invasive Species Council has welcomed new federal funding to support feral deer management in South Australia, saying it’s an encouraging boost for the state’s ambitious eradication effort – but more investment is urgently needed to finish the job.
If successful, the program would be a nationally significant blueprint for eradicating feral deer.
‘It’s good to see this new money from the federal government on the table, but this is still only a modest step towards what we know is needed to get the job done,’ Invasive Species Council CEO Jack Gough said.
‘South Australia is leading the nation on feral deer management and this eradication effort isn’t just a local project. It’s a national roadmap – showing what’s possible when ambition, expertise, funding and community support come together.
‘The 11 year eradication plan, launched in 2022 by the SA Government, requires $14 million to be fully funded, but we understand only about half has been secured.
‘Further investment is urgently needed to remove the remaining 20,000 feral deer from South Australia – and that money needs to be front-loaded, particularly now as deer breeding season is underway.
‘You wouldn’t build half a bridge – and I hope we don’t end up with only half an eradication program.
‘Feral deer are one of Australia’s worst emerging pests; trashing, trampling and polluting landscapes across the state, threatening our environment and costing farmers millions in lost production and infrastructure damage.
‘So far more than 27,000 feral deer have been culled under the program, the majority through aerial shooting, with government estimates suggesting this has led to the state’s deer population being halved.
‘It is good news that the SA Government committed $2 million as part of the Drought Support Package, on top of this new commitment from the federal government, but we know that at least $5 million more is needed from the federal government to meet the program’s goals.
‘No other state has shown this level of ambition or committed the funding and focus needed to eradicate feral deer. It will be a monumental achievement when they get there and set a country-wide precedent.’
Media inquiries: (02) 8006 5004
Background:
- The Strategic Plan for the South Australian Feral Deer Eradication Program 2022-32 aims to eradicate feral deer from South Australia in 11 years.
- The estimated population of feral deer in South Australia in 2021 was 40,000, compared to between 1 and 2 million in NSW and Victoria.
- Population modelling indicated that the feral deer population in South Australia could increase to 208,000 within 10 years under pre-2022 management levels.
- Since May 2022, the SA Government has culled more than 27,000 feral deer under the program, the majority through aerial shooting, with government estimates suggesting this has led to the state’s deer population being halved.
- In South Australia, feral deer are declared for destruction under the Landscape South Australia Act 2019, meaning land managers are required to destroy all feral deer on their land.
- Independent analysis for the SA Government of the 10-year eradication program against business-as-usual management of feral deer indicates that the program will generate a net benefit to the community of $525 million over a 10-year period.
- Feral deer are found across about 40% of the agricultural parts of South Australia and the most common species in South Australia are fallow deer and red deer.
- To achieve eradication within a 10-year timeframe, a reduction target of 60-65% of the feral deer population per year is required for the first two years of the program. This is required to counter the natural rate of increase of feral deer populations (about 34% per year for fallow deer).
- After the first two years, between 38-55% population cull targets per year are required to achieve eradication by 2033.
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