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read moreMore wildlife has been destroyed to protect property and human health at Hamilton Island Resort in Queensland's Whitsundays, despite an angry public backlash.
In September, the ABC revealed hundreds of animals, including 35 cockatoos, a kookaburra and almost 400 wallabies, were killed at the popular tourist destination between November 2014 and May 2016.
New figures show in the past six months another three sulphur-crested cockatoos, 106 agile wallabies and 80 brushtail possums have been culled.
Hamilton Island's social media pages were inundated with angry messages and pleas from people after the mass deaths were revealed.
Management at Hamilton Island said culling was a last resort, but it was legally allowed to control a variety of introduced species, to prevent major environmental damage and soil erosion.
It said the resort had developed other ways to protect guests and property including physical barriers around bins and educating guests not to feed the animals.
Management said the island's environmental officer had to cull three sulphur-crested cockatoos that were diseased, malformed or injured.
The Queensland Department of the Environment allows management to cull an unlimited amount of agile wallabies, 100 sulphur-crested cockatoos, 10 kookaburras and up to 5,000 possums every three years, despite no population data being available.
RSPCA spokesman Michael Beatty said the figures were alarming, advising that he said he would contact Queensland Environment Minister Steven Miles to discuss the issue.
Beatty stated “surely we should be looking at alternatives and not just culling animals because they're considered a nuisance.
"We're hoping they'll at least consider other measures to stop culling in general, let alone the amount that's going on."
In a statement, Minister Miles said he had asked his Department to work closely with the resort operator to ensure humane alternatives are being explored.
Image: Wallaby at Hamilton Island's Plam Bungalows. Courtesy of Trip Advisor.
7th September 2016 - HAMILTON ISLAND WILDLIFE CULL SPARKS SOCIAL MEDIA FURY
2nd June 2016 - QUEENSLAND GOVERNMENT TO INCREASE FUNDING FOR CROCODILE MANAGEMENT
2nd May 2016 - NSW GOVERNMENT MANAGEMENT PLANS SUGGESTS CULLING OF 90% OF SNOWY MOUNTAINS BRUMBIES OVER 20 YEARS
3rd November 2015 - RESEARCH PROJECT FINDS WHITSUNDAY ISLANDS LITTERED WITH RUBBISH
20th August 2014 - FEDERAL GOVERNMENT APPOINTS COMMISSIONER FOR THREATENED SPECIES
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