Culling of Sambar deer on Table Mountain needs to stop until proper studies done - researcher

CapeTalk's John Maytham is joined by development economist Professor Nicoli Nattrass from the University of Cape Town.

Not all Capetonians are aware of the presence of exotic Sambar deer on Table Mountain, or the fact that they are being culled.

A new discussion paper by Professor Nicoli Nattrass from the University of Cape Town challenges assumptions that the deer pose a negligible ecological threat while also questioning the lack of systematic research to confirm this.

The large Oriental deer were imported by Cecil John Rhodes to add to his menagerie on Groote Schuur Estate in the late 1800s.

It's thought that the original population of 19 expanded to an estimated 30 individuals by 2010.

Prof. Nattrass questions whether the current population should be culled at all, and whether this is being done according to our laws.

Conservation officials and many ecologists are suspicious of any exotic animal because of the potential risks it poses for the local ecology, she writes in her paper.

We simply don't know enough at this point to justify the the 'ad hoc' culling being carried out by Table Mountain National Park, she tells CapeTalk's John Maytham.

"It's a little unclear whether the problem lies with the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) for not providing adequate guidelines or with the National Park for not developing them - I'm still trying to get to the bottom of that one."

Prof. Nicoli Nattrass, School of Economics - UCT

"Certainly the letter and spirit of our legislation is that managers of protected areas should know what impact any alien species is having before you start trying to manage it, because you need to know where they are and what damage they're doing before you waste resources, possibly, trying to eradicate something that's unnecessary."

Prof. Nicoli Nattrass, School of Economics - UCT

She also raises the question of these foragers possibly having a role to play in fire suppression as forest increasingly encroaches on the indigenous fynbos.

The development economist's conclusion is that there really isn't an evidential basis to justify any kind of culling of Sambar deer at the moment.

Her paper calls for urgent studies on the species' impact and ecological niche, along with a moratorium on culling operations until evidence-based protocols are in place.

Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the full conversation, and click here to view the discussion paper