Deer cull threatens herd, local group says

THE forestry development company, Coillte, has been accused of indiscriminate deer culling at Portumna Forest Park in Co Galway, which fronts Lough Derg.

A local environmental group and the Green Party claimed yesterday that the deer population in a the park was a lot less than Coillte had said, and that the latest cull - due to start today would all but eliminate a herd of fewer than 100 sika deer.

"The commercial mandate of Coillte is in direct conflict with the amenity value in the park," Green Party spokesman Mr Pat Fitzpatrick said: "The profit motive has led to the selling off of lands to the local golf club. It is in Coillte's interest to see the herd exterminated as deer must be kept off newly planted saplings which are about to replace a mature forest due for felling."

Conflict with the local community over the deer population had occurred because Coillte had repeatedly failed to provide documentation of its plans for the park, he claimed.

Mr Bobby Madden, of Portumna Forest Park Action Group, said a series of culls in recent months had left the deer, population at 30 to 50. "There will be no deer left with this latest cull," he said.

According to Coillte, 50 deer are due to be culled under the terms of a management plan for the park agreed with the Office of Public Works. This would bring the population down to about 110, a level considered sustainable. Three years ago, the population stood at 500 to 600 and local people had complained they were a nuisance.

This weekend's cull would be monitored by the Wildlife Section of the OPW and members of the Irish Deer Society, said Coillte communications manager Mr Pat Keane.