More than 4,000 kangaroos are shot dead in one of the biggest culls ever to protect bushland as the drought bites
- The Australian Capital Territory government has shot dead 4,035 kangaroos
- ACT Parks described it as the best ever annual cull of hopping marsupials
- The culls are designed to prevent overgrazing as the drought diminishes grass
The killing season has ended in Canberra with more than 4,000 kangaroos shot dead in the capital's biggest ever annual cull.
The Australian Capital Territory government has confirmed it has euthanised the hopping marsupials in suburban nature reserves since May.
While kangaroos are on Australia's coat of arms, they are considered a pest in certain areas of the national capital as the drought diminishes grass habitats.
The killing season has ended in Canberra with more than 4,000 kangaroos shot dead (pictured is a stock image of kangaroos in the national capital near Lake Burley Griffin)
ACT Parks acting director Justin Foley said the cull of 4,035 kangaroos was carried out to protect the environment.
'This year's cull was the largest undertaken in the history of the program in terms of numbers and sites to be targeted,' he said on Friday.
'A total of 4,035 kangaroos have been culled as part of the ACT government's ongoing program to protect grassland and woodland sites from overgrazing.
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'This kangaroo management program plays a critical role in protecting the environment at these locations.'
The cull of eastern grey kangaroos took place at nature reserves a short drive from Parliament House, including the Mount Ainslie and Majura area, where 1,157 or more than a quarter of the marsupials were killed.
'An ACT government veterinary officer undertook spot checks during the program and found the kangaroos were killed humanely,' Mr Foley said.
The cull of eastern grey kangaroos took place at nature reserves a short drive from Parliament House (pictured), including the Mount Ainslie and Majura area, where 1,157 or more than a quarter of the marsupials were killed
The reserves that had been closed since May reopened on Friday, following two months of culling.
ACT Parks said the culls, to stop overgrazing, would protect habitats for lizards and ground-feeding birds, and preserve soil.
Animals rights activists dispute this and describe the slaughter of kangaroos every year as unnecessary.
The kangaroo culls took place at nine sites from the Mugga Mugga nature reserve and Jerrabombera grasslands, south of Parliament House, to Mount Ainslie and Majura in the city's north.
ACT Parks acting director Justin Foley said the cull of 4,035 kangaroos was to protect the environment, describing it as the biggest ever (pictured are kangaroos near Parliament House)
