In regards to the flurry of letters relating to deer culling in Royal National Park the National Parks Association of NSW (not to be confused with the NPWS) has a clear policy.
NPA believes that there is no place for introduced plants and animals in our national park system and believes that they should be removed as quickly and as humanely as possible.
NPA believes that the best method for doing so is by lethal force and that should be done by professional shooters under direct supervision of the NPWS. Individual hunters do not work over an entire landscape, often merely disperse the pests and therefore can actually exacerbate the situation.
NPA also believes that NPWS requires the funds to carry out such a task and urges the citizens surrounding our local parks to write to our local MLA's seeking adequate funding be provided for the proper management of our parks.
NPA also notes that any culling within our national parks will not work if there is not a similar coordinated response from agencies and neighbours surrounding the park. Without that coordination any deer removed will merely be replaced by another moving into the gap created.
Brian Everingham, President National Parks Association - Southern Sydney
