Nearly 100 deer were shot dead in Dublin’s Phoenix Park last year as part of the annual cull.

Freedom of Information figures released to Newstalk show that the animals were killed over four days in January and November.

According to the figures, 95 deer were killed last year and 74 were killed the year before.

The Office of Public Works (OPW) said the culls are necessary to keep the park’s deer population at a sustainable size – between 500 and 600 animals.

Cull

Alliance for Animal Rights spokesperson Bernie Wright told Newstalk that there are other ways to manage the herd.

“I disapprove of the killing of deer because there are options and it doesn’t have to happen,” she said.

“Like America, we could change over to contraceptives for the deer because the numbers seem to the problem. Maybe some could be relocated.”

She said any contraceptive would have to be imported form the US; however, she said, “I still think it is a far kinder and more humane option than shooting these animals in front of their offspring in the park.”

A stag and a deer in Dublin’s Phoenix Park, 28-09-2020. Image: Sam Boal/RollingNews

Ireland’s fallow deer have had no natural predator since the grey wolf became extinct in 1786.

The OPW has warned that, without population management, the park will not be able to produce enough food to sustain the herd.

This could lead to “welfare issues such as low body fat, malnutrition and high incidences of deaths from exposure during cold winters.”

It said rising herd numbers would also lead to a “build-up of parasites and other pathogens causing disease to spread rapidly.”

Finally, it said a lack of population control could also have a detrimental effect on the other flora and fauna in the park.

Phoenix Park

The Government body said there are currently no suitable contraceptives licenced for use in wild Irish deer – and insisted that contraceptives are also difficult to monitor.

It said relocation can be very stressful for deer and can lead to injury or death.

Fallow deer have been living in the Phoenix Park since 1662.

Reporting from Eoghan Murphy and Michael Staines