A month-long ban on bushwalking has been imposed in Tasmania’s Walls of Jerusalem National Park while sharpshooters take to the skies to cull the fallow deer population from helicopters.
Parks and Wildlife Tasmania say fallow deer are causing extensive damage to the sensitive soils and waterways in the area.
“Deer erode and damage soils and waterways, trample sensitive plant communities, browse at a level above native animals as well as eating different plants,” Parks and Wildlife said.
“In large numbers, deer can substantially modify the ecosystems in which they live. Fallow deer can also be vectors of animal diseases and spread plant pathogens.”
They hope that the culling program, which uses thermal-imaging technology to identify the animals in heavily wooded areas, will “substantially reduce if not eradicate” the deer population within the park.
“Thermal assisted aerial control differs from conventional aerial shooting methods in that operations are guided by a manual operator using a high-quality thermal imager and daylight visible laser.”
Parks and Wildlife also say preventing the animal from suffering is ‘the highest priority,’ and only highly trained and experienced Department of Natural Resources and Environment staff will undertake aerial shooting operations.
The shooting team will also employ a qualified veterinarian to independently oversee the operation, which will cull between an estimated 100 and 300 deer within the project area.
Deer that get shot will be ‘left in situ to decompose unless the carcasses pose a social, health or environmental risk,’ while any carcasses near watercourses, reserve and hydro infrastructure, walking tracks, huts, campgrounds and close to roads and vehicle tracks will be removed.
During the operation, which will last from today until Sunday 4 June, parts of the Meander and Great Western Tiers Conservations areas control area will be closed to all users.
Walking track closures
- All tracks in the Walls of Jerusalem National Park
- The Never Never Track
- Blue Peaks Track
- Explorer Creek Track
- Higgs Track
- Ritters Track
- Western Creek Track
- Syds Track
- Mother Cummings Track
- Johnson’s Track
- All Meander Falls Precinct Tracks
- Warners Track
- Projection Bluff Track
- Double Lagoon Track
- Lake Kay Track
- Lake Flora and Odell Track
- Little Blue Lake and Tin Hut Track
- Lake Fanny Track
- Lake Antimony Track
- Olive Lagoon Track
- Lake Naomi Track
- Clarence Lagoon Track
- Broken Leg Creek Track
Open nearby walking tracks
- Devils Gullet Track
- Arm River Track
- Lees Paddocks Track
- Westmorland Falls Track
- Parsons Track
- Yeats Track
- Western Bluff Track
- Pine Lake Nature Trail
