Over 3,200 grey kangaroos were killed across 12 nature reserve sites in this year’s cull to protect vegetation and threatened species, 661 more than last year, according to the ACT Government.

The 3,253 kangaroos killed by professional shooters included 1,822 within the ACT border and a further 1,431 at the Googong foreshores in NSW. This was the target number the Government announced in May.

The Director of Parks and Conservation, Daniel Iglesias, said the cull was undertaken without incident.

Mr Iglesias said many of the sites were challenging due to their small size and location on the urban fringe and praised the professionalism of the contractors and staff.

“Googong Foreshores contains a number of threatened ecological communities and plant and animal species. It forms part of a corridor of relatively intact vegetation, extending from the Tinderry Range to the north-eastern ACT, so this cull will help protect the area, including the ACT’s water supply,” he said.

Mr Iglesias said an ACT Government veterinary officer undertook spot checks during the program and found the cull was undertaken humanely in accordance with a strict Code of Practice.

“This kangaroo management program plays a critical role in protecting the environment at these locations,” Mr Iglesias said.

“Ensuring the grasslands and woodlands, which provide habitat for creatures such as lizards and ground-feeding birds, are not overgrazed, and avoiding excessive soil loss, will help to protect them whilst still maintaining sustainable numbers of kangaroos.”

All nature reserve sites and unleased lands that had been closed for the annual kangaroo conservation cull were re-open to the public on Thursday (21 June).