Evaluating the effects of feral deer management on endangered alpine peatlands: The Alpine National Park deer control trial

A significant expansion of feral deer populations, most significantly sambar deer (Cervus unicolor Kerr), has been observed in the Alpine National Park (ANP) in eastern Victoria over the past decade. In particular, increasing signs of deer activity have been observed at higher elevations, which corresponds with observed increases in deer impacts on significant environmental assets including Alpine Sphagnum Bogs and Associated Fens (hereaf ter known as alpine peatlands), an endangered ecological community, listed under the Australian Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and Victorian Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988.