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This year's kangaroo cull saw 2592 killed in an ACT government effort to prevent overgrazing of local grasslands and woodlands. ACT Parks and Conservation director David Iglesias said the cull played a critical role in protecting the local environment, including flora and fauna that may suffer from overgrazing by roos. "Ensuring these sites are not overgrazed protects threatened species and ecosystems, provides habitat for creatures such as lizards and ground-feeding birds and prevents excessive soil loss whilst still maintaining sustainable numbers of kangaroos," Mr Iglesias said. "The vast majority of these kangaroos, 1406, were culled in Googong Foreshores in NSW." The ACT government targeted 2600 roos this cull, the highest since 2011 when the government contracted for 3500 dead roos. The 2011 cull saw 1989 kangaroos shot and another 800 pouch young killed. Contractors are required to kill young by clubbing them in the head. Mr Iglesias said culling was the most humane method of population control. "A research trial is currently underway into the use of a fertility control vaccine as a potential non-lethal approach to eastern grey kangaroo management. Preliminary results are looking positive, with more results expected towards the end of the year," Mr Iglesias said. ACT authorities previously expressed doubt that a contraceptive program would put an end to culls. Conservator for Flora and Fauna Annie Lane said she doubted the GonaCon contraceptive would be adequate to bring down kangaroo population density. "We'd have to weigh up the cost and benefits of it and it wouldn't be the solution to the kangaroo culling," she said. The cull has been controversial in the ACT. It was recently discovered kangaroo shooters had been using illegal silencers since 2009, but had been given permission by the ACT's justice directorate. Parks and Conservation recently floated the idea of hunters no longer needing an annual license to take part in the cull, instead cementing it as a regular event. The ACT government also announced on Thursday closed reserves had been reopened now the cull was over. The sites are Goorooyarroo Nature Reserve, Mount Majura Nature Reserve and adjacent territory land, Kama Nature Reserve, Mount Painter Nature Reserve and adjacent territory land, The Pinnacle Nature Reserve and adjacent unleased land, Mount Mugga Mugga Nature Reserve, Isaacs Ridge Nature Reserves, Callum Brae Nature Reserve, East Jerrabomberra Grasslands, West Jerrabomberra Nature Reserve, Mulligans Flat Nature Reserve and Googong Foreshores. The sites had been closed since 17 May 2017.

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