The animal rights group succeeded last month in having the cull on the Majura Training Site suspended to allow for a review of the granting of a culling licence before the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal. The ACT Conservator of Flora and Fauna granted a licence to the Defence Department on April 9 to kill 7000 of the estimated 9000 kangaroos on the site. The licence is set to expire on July 31.

The tribunal said in a decision handed down on Monday there was sufficient evidence that the site was overpopulated by eastern grey kangaroos, and culling was the only practical option to restore the ecological balance.

The Defence Department said yesterday culling resumed on Monday, and it aimed to cull the intended number of kangaroos within the time remaining on the licence. Animal Liberation NSW executive director Mark Pearson had said it would fight the decision before the Supreme Court, but said yesterday it was unlikely an appeal would be heard in time to save the remaining 3100 kangaroos.