Outrage over Broadway cockatoo cull

The City of Sydney is scrambling to stop the cull of 20 cockatoos near Broadway. Image by LeoThe news that up to 20 Sulphur Crested cockatoos will be shot dead on the streets surrounding Broadway in the next two months has been met with squawks of outrage from the City of Sydney council.

The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) granted a permit to Sydney Campus Apartments in Broadway allowing the cull, after the NPWS investigated the damage the birds had caused to the building’s facade.

The permit enables the manager of the apartment block to hire a contractor to shoot the birds.

Greens Councillor Irene Doutney said Sydney council the “criminal” news had left her “absolutely gobsmacked”.

“It is appalling,” Cr Doutney fumed. “Is this the way we treat our wildlife? And what happens if we kill this lot and another flock come - do we just shoot them as well?”

Cr Doutney said she was investigating all options, including a legal injunction, to put a stop to the cull.

She said tourists came from all over the world to get a glimpse of Australia’s unique birdlife.

“Imagine how those visitors would feel if they knew that in the heart of Australia’s most recognisable city we were killing off a gorgeous, intelligent and long lived bird in the name of protecting a few window sills,” Cr Doutney said.

Lord Mayor Clover Moore last week demanded the NPWS revoke the license to cull the birds, saying the council had not been consulted on the move.

A NPWS spokeswoman said the license had only been granted to the manager of the apartment because other methods of dissauding the cockatoos from damaging the building had failed.

“It should be stressed that shooting is considered an absolute last resort by the NPWS and proof of previous attempts to mitigate the damage must be evidenced,” the spokeswoman said.

The manager of the apartment block has until November to complete the cull of the birds.