'We're fed up with execution': Animal rights groups incensed as island is shut off to visitors while hundreds of kangaroos and wallabies are shot
- Maria Island will close to the public make way for annual controlled wildlife cull
- Animal Liberation Tasmania said authorities need to look at alternative solutions
- Officials said the cull was necessary, stating they get sick when overpopulated
A popular tourist hot spot will close to make way for a mass wildlife shooting, and local animal rights groups are outraged.
Maria Island off Tasmania's east coast will close for a week from Friday so the Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service can cull the kangaroo and macropod population, The Mercury reported.
The island's culling operations have taken place since 1994, but Animal Liberation Tasmania president Kristy Alger said authorities need to look at alternative solutions.
Tasmania's Maria Island will close for a week from Friday so the Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service can exercise kangaroo and macropod population control measures
'If we're looking at the need to cull animals every single year, then why aren't we looking at other longer-term solutions?' Ms Alger said.
'Humans just go in and kill ... There has to be a more proactive way to go about it.'
She also added the animal rights group is 'fed up' with execution being the only population control measure used.
A Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment spokesperson said the animals become 'sick and distressed' when macropod numbers are too high in places like Maria Island (pictured)
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But a Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment spokesperson said the animals become 'sick and distressed' when macropod numbers are too high.
'That's what we're aiming to avoid,' she said.
'PWS has a responsibility to conserve the island's biodiversity while also maintaining a viable and healthy animal population and has been actively managing the island's macropod species.
The island's culling operations have taken place since 1994, but Animal Liberation Tasmania (pictured) president Kristy Alger said authorities need to look at alternative solutions
'The decision to remove these animals is based on a scientific monitoring program of three key indicators — pasture condition, animal condition and fecundity, current and predicted rainfall and therefore available food.'
The number of animals to be targeted was not disclosed, but more than 500 macropods were targeted last year.
Maria Island will reopen to the public on July 6.
