MP Frank Pangallo slams Environment Department after bushwalker’s grisly find in Onkaparinga River National Park

WARNING: Confronting content – An Adelaide bushwalker says she was horrified at the scene that confronted her in a popular national park.

Disfigured deer with missing heads and legs have been discovered just metres from a walking track in a popular national park south of Adelaide.

A horrified bushwalker stumbled across three maimed carcasses at Onkaparinga River National Park on April 1 and has lodged a complaint with the Environment Department over the “confronting” scene.

The discovery coincided with a state government-sanctioned deer cull at the park.

A picture of a dead deer at Onkaparinga River National Park. Picture: Belinda Hall.

A second dead deer at Onkaparinga River National Park. Picture: Belinda Hall.

Another image from the confronting scene.

Seaford Meadows resident, Belinda Hall, said she had been at the park on Monday and had spotted dear roaming but when she returned the following day, she came across three dead deer.

“Unfortunately I did go (back to the park) and found one of the beautiful bucks had actually been shot and beheaded which was very confronting,” she said.

“It did make me emotional.”

Ms Hall said one of the deer was just 20 metres from the Baker Gully Track, while another was about 120m away.

The 38-year-old said she understood the need for the cull but questioned why the deer were being wasted rather than harvested.

She said park rangers had told her contract shooters hired to carry out the cull were not responsible for the deaths of the deer she found however she remained unconvinced.

Independent MLC Frank Pangallo. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

Independent MLC Frank Pangallo also has his doubts.

“Rogue shooters wouldn’t go in there the same time as department hunters were in there,” he said.

“They’ve been caught out because they’re supposed to clear them away.”

Mr Pangallo said he had no objection to the cull.

“However, there should be a responsibility from the department and its culling team to remove those carcasses and not allow them to be out in the open in the view in the public,” he said.

“It’s shocking to be confronted with scenes like that.”

An SA Government spokesperson said contracted shooters hired for the deer cull were responsible for ensuring deer were removed from trails and placed out of public sight once shot.

“The contractor has informed the local Landscape Board that carcasses are being relocated to an area well away from public walking tracks, amenities and public access points, as per the operational guidelines.” they said.

“The board is investigating whether this has been done and whether there has been a breach of contract, specifically regarding the potential use of a carcass by the contractors.”

The spokesperson said the deer cull has been paused while the investigation is underway.