Background
Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service is undertaking a wild fallow deer control project within the western section of the Central Plateau Conservation Area in May 2025. This project will build 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 aims to remove wild fallow deer from Central Plateau Conservation Area and maintain eradication of deer from Walls of Jerusalem National Park.
The project is 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 will be closed to all users from Monday, 28th April to Sunday, 1 June 2025 inclusive.
Project Area
The deer control area includes the western section Central Plateau Conservation Area west of Highland Lakes Road and Marlborough Road, north of Lyell Highway to the boundary with the Walls of Jerusalem National Park. Ritters track, Lake Fanny Track, Olive Lagoon track and Split Rock Track west of Highland Lakes Road are 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 Department of Natural Resources and Environment (NRE Tas) staff will undertake aerial shooting operations. A qualified veterinarian will be employed to independently oversee the operations.
Current estimates indicate that there may be between 200 and 400 deer remaining within the project area.
All deer shot will be left in situ unless the carcasses pose a social, health or environmental risk. Carcasses will be removed from watercourses, near reserve and hydro infrastructure (walking tracks, huts, campgrounds) and close to roads and vehicle tracks.
Operational deployments are scheduled for May 2025. May has been 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 closes on 27 April, and before the Wedge-tailed eagle breeding season commences in June.
Autumn weather is generally more stable for aerial shooting operations and recreational use tends to decrease after Easter.
Walking track closures
All walking tracks that access the western most section of Central Plateau Conservation Area, either by commencing within, or by accessing through adjacent private land and other reserves, will be closed during the operational deployments.
Tracks that commence in the Walls of Jerusalem National Park, Great Western Tiers Conservation Area, Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park or Meander Conservation Area, or on private land such as Gowan Brae, that have a destination or terminate within the closure area will also be closed.
During the operational deployment, the closed tracks include but are not limited to:
Ritters Track
Lake Fanny Track
Olive Lagoon Track
Split Rock Track
Open nearby walking tracks
The following tracks are outside the control area and will remain open during the project period:
Road closures
Clarence Lagoon and Lake Augusta Roads will be closed.
The reserves will be closed in accordance with Regulation 18 of the National Parks and Reserve Management Regulations 2019, ensuring that officers have appropriate authority to lawfully manage access into the reserves. Daily checks will be undertaken to ensure compliance with the closure and breaches will be investigated.
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. By the end of this year, a monitoring program to assist in detecting remigration of wild fallow deer back into the Walls of Jerusalem National Park will be implemented.
Mid project update
The Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service has undertaken two 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 provides an update on progress so far.
TWWHA Deer Control-Summary Update-July 2023.pdf
TWWHA Deer Control - Summary Update - June 2024 (PDF 563Kb)
More information
For more information about the management of wild falllow deer in Tasmania see Wild Fallow Deer Management Plan on the NRE Tas website.
For enquiries please contact PWS Deer Project Officer
Email: deer.project@parks.tas.gov.au