Animal activists claimed a strategic victory over shooters involved in Canberra's annual kangaroo cull on Monday, saying they had disrupted shooting in the Pinnacle Nature Reserve.
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Shooting in the reserve, adjacent to Weetangera and Hawker, stopped temporarily about 8pm on Sunday after activists sounded air horns and charged across the reserve.
Animal Liberation ACT spokeswoman Carolyn Drew said all shooting was abandoned for the night about 9.30pm.
''We are elated that the pressure bought to bear by repeated forays onto the reserve has meant many adult kangaroos and joeys have been protected,'' Ms Drew said in a statement.
''Activists will be out on the ground at every reserve and will continue this pressure to protect kangaroos from a gruesome and unjustifiable death until the end of the culling season on August 1.''
The protests came as it was revealed the cull may fail to reach its annual target by the July 31 deadline, following repeated legal delays.
The program had been given the green light after a decision handed down by the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal on Wednesday, ruling that 1244 kangaroos could be shot by the end of July. A further interim application lodged by the Australian Society for Kangaroos on Friday was dismissed.
ACT Municipal Services Minister Shane Rattenbury confirmed on Monday that culling operations had begun, but the delays had left a narrow window for shooters.
''No doubt this will have an impact on the original target,'' he said. ''There are a few factors against reaching that original target.''
Speaking on ABC Radio, Mr Rattenbury said ''minor adjustments'' had been made due to the presence of activists across the seven sites. ''There have been protesters on site,'' he said. ''I believe some warnings have been issued, but I'm not aware of any major incidents at this point.''
Activists had vowed to disrupt shooting across the reserves - Callum Brae, Goorooyarroo, Kama, Mount Painter, Mulanggari, Mulligan's Flat and the Pinnacle - but those caught trespassing could be fined up to $5500 under the Nature Conservation Act.
Earlier, Ms Drew disputed Mr Rattenbury's claim that warnings had been issued.
''We were sitting there from 10.30pm till 5am waiting,'' she said.
''As far as I know, no fines or warnings were issued.''
An ACT government spokeswoman confirmed one written warning had been issued as of 2pm on Monday.
