Background
The Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania (NRE Tas) has successfully undertaken a wild fallow deer control project within the western section of the Central Plateau Conservation Area in May 2025. This project has built on the successes of the “TWWHA – Deer Control Project 2023 and 2024” where more than 1000 deer have already been removed.
The Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area (TWWHA) Deer Control Project 2025 aimed to remove wild fallow deer from Central Plateau Conservation Area and maintain eradication of deer from Walls of Jerusalem National Park.
The project was an aerial shooting program from a helicopter using thermal technology. This method has been used with great success over the last two years in the TWWHA.
The control area was closed to all users from Monday 28 April - Sunday 1 June 2025.
Project area
The deer control area included the western section Central Plateau Conservation Area (CPCA) west of Highland Lakes Road and Marlborough Road, north of Lyell Highway to the boundary with the Walls of Jerusalem National Park (wWoJNP). Ritters track, Lake Fanny Track, Olive Lagoon track and Split Rock Track west of Highland Lakes Road were included in the control area.
Project details
Wild fallow deer are a threat to the natural values of the TWWHA. Deer erode and damage soils and waterways, trample sensitive plant communities, browse at a level above native animals as well as eating different plants. In large numbers, deer can substantially modify the ecosystems in which they live. Fallow deer can also be vectors of animal diseases and spread plant pathogens.
Thermal assisted aerial control differs from conventional aerial shooting methods in that operations are guided by a manual operator using a high-quality thermal imager and daylight visible laser.
In any animal control operation, human safety and preventing the animal suffering are always the highest priorities. To ensure this goal is achieved, only highly trained and experienced NRE Tas staff were utilised to undertake aerial shooting operations. A qualified veterinarian was employed to independently oversee the operations.
All deer shot were left in situ unless the carcasses pose a social, health or environmental risk. Carcasses were removed from watercourses, near reserve and hydro infrastructure (walking tracks, huts, campgrounds) and close to roads and vehicle tracks.
Operational deployments were conducted during May 2025. May was selected as the best month for undertaking the operation due to favourable weather conditions and minimising impact on recreational users and wildlife.
May is the end of the rut with deer still in groups and trying to fatten up prior to the start of winter. It is after the end of the brown trout recreational fishing season, which closed on 27 April, and before the Wedge-tailed eagle breeding season which commenced in June.
Autumn weather is generally more stable for aerial shooting operations and recreational use tends to decrease after Easter.
2025 Operation details
It was estimated that there were between 200 and 400 deer remaining within the project area. During this phase of the project, the aerial control team, with the support of volunteer shooters, were successful in humanely destroying 323 from within the project area during late April to mid-May.
Over the three years of the program, 1,340 deer have been removed over a 54-day period. Most of the deer shot were located within the high-density zone of the CPCA, thus reducing migration pressures in the WoJNP.
Monitoring
At the conclusion of each deployment the University of Tasmania and NRE Tas Conservation Science Section will review the success of the project in relation to the project goals. A monitoring program to assist in detecting remigration of wild fallow deer back into the Walls of Jerusalem National Park has been implemented. Sentinel cameras are a key monitoring tool used to detect deer movement within the project area. This monitoring strategy will inform planning and operations for deer control programs for future years.
Project update
The Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service has undertaken three eradication and control efforts of wild fallow deer in the Walls of Jerusalem National Park and adjacent Central Plateau Conservation Area. The below summary reports provide an update on project outcomes.
TWWHA Deer Control-Summary Update-July 2023.pdf
TWWHA Deer Control - Summary Update - June 2024 (PDF 563Kb)
TWWHA Deer Control Summary - November 2025 (PDF 5Mb)
More information
For more information about the management of wild fallow deer in Tasmania see Wild Fallow Deer Management Plan on the NRE Tas website.