ANIMAL rights campaigners are planning a dawn protest this Wednesday to highlight their objections to another deer cull in Killarney National Park, KillarneyToday.com can reveal.
The National Parks and Wildlife Service, which manages the park, has defended the cull, insisting it is necessary to manage the deer population.
It was confirmed last week that the current operation will see up to 240 animals shot, over a three-week period, with park officials insisting that it is scientifically based and it uses information from a deer population census.
The cull, which is taking place over three successive Wednesday mornings, and for which a special licence has been obtained, is focusing on certain areas of the park.
For health and safety reasons, members of the public will be prevented from entering the area, at Knockreer and Ballydowney, while the cull is in progress this Wednesday from 6.00am to 11.00am.
But tomorrow morning’s protest, organised by members of the Party For Animal Welfare, will focus on calls for other means to be implemented to deal with the over population of deer.
Those wishing to get involved to voice their concerns have been invited to show up at the entrance to St Mary’s Cathedral – opposite the entrance to the park – at 7.00am.
A senior Party For Animal Welfare member stated: “Let’s be honest with our visitors. If this cull continues, every travel agent worldwide will be notified. Every airline will be notified. Every tourist information centre worldwide will be notified”.
He added: “There will be continuous protests in Killarney town centre informing people how we treat our treasured animals. There will be protests at different entrances to Killarney National Park”.
The exact number of deer in Killarney National Park is unclear but it is believed that the population of red deer is not far from 1,000 with hundreds of non-native Sika deer now roaming the park.
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