Robben Island calls in the deer hunter to cull 400 animals

Venison will be on the menu on Robben Island during a nine-month cull of its fallow deer.

The herd of deer on the island 7km off Cape Town in Table Bay has grown to 450‚ and a professional hunter has been brought in to reduce it to 50.

“The meat will be distributed to staff on the island‚ as well as to prison services‚” Robben Island Museum marketing manager Bongiwe Nzeku said on Wednesday.

The cull‚ which will take place at night-time‚ will begin this month and last until March. Nzeku said it was “in line with the carrying capacity of the island as a habitat”.

She added: “The reduction of the population fallow deer will have a positive impact on the condition and health of the remaining animals on the island‚ as well as ensuring the restoration of endemic vegetation to a point where it will become self-sustaining.”

Three fallow deer were introduced to the island in 1963‚ the same year Nelson Mandela arrived there. By 1977 they had multiplied to 40 animals.

“In the past‚ culling was rarely necessary‚ because residents hunted the deer for meat and thereby maintained optimal numbers. However‚ hunting practices were halted in 1990 when the island was declared a museum‚” said Nzeku.

Hunters culled about 220 fallow deer in 2009‚ and the following year an animal welfare group took another 52 to a sanctuary in the Free State.

Said Nzeku: “As the deer were introduced in 1963‚ they have become very much a part of the island and the decision has been taken to keep a small population present before reassessing further measures in the future.”

Advice had been sought from the Cape of Good Hope Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals‚ the Department of Agriculture‚ Forestry and Fisheries‚ the Department of Correctional Services and Cape Nature to ensure that the cull was completed humanely.

“We are always sad to see some of our animals go; however‚ numbers have escalated to unsustainable levels‚ destroying vegetation and also out-competing indigenous antelope species on the island‚” said Nzeku.

“We treasure all of the island’s natural resources and protecting them is our greatest priority. We look forward to them thriving once more.”

Nzeku said the skins of culled deers would be used in a craft project on the island. It was still being conceptualised and would include the use of natural raw materials.