The Queensland Conservation Council highlights the critical need for ongoing funding to protect and manage national parks, especially following the successful eradication of feral rusa deer from Wild Duck Island.
Located off the central Queensland coast, this island is home to one of Australia's largest flatback turtle rookeries. The rusa deer, believed to have been illegally introduced in 2005 for hunting, significantly impacted the island's vegetation and threatened turtle populations.
Southern Great Barrier Reef principal ranger David Orgill noted that the deer disturbed nesting turtles, causing them to return to the water before laying eggs. They also trampled on turtle nests, negatively affecting egg success rates.
In response to the adverse effects observed since 2018, a control program was initiated involving aerial and ground shooting with thermal cameras. By 2023, approximately 272 deer had been removed from the island.
Recent monitoring with 44 remote cameras revealed no sightings of the feral deer, marking the first successful eradication of this species from a national park island in Australia.
Orgill emphasized the broader implications of this success, as similar technologies are being applied to manage invasive species like feral goats and pigs across various Great Barrier Reef islands.
Dave Copeman, Director of the Queensland Conservation Council, welcomed the investment in invasive species management, urging for more funding to protect vulnerable ecosystems.