A total of 392 deer were culled in Killarney National Park during 2025, representing a 37% increase on the previous year.

According to new figures from the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), the cull included 276 non-native sika deer and 116 native Killarney red deer.

The 2025 figures show a marked rise from 2024, when 286 deer were removed from the 10,000-hectare park.

The NPWS confirmed that the culling took place primarily during the official hunting season, with a specific focus on female deer to manage population growth.

The NPWS acknowledged an increase in deer numbers, citing restrictions on hunting during the Covid-19 pandemic as a contributing factor.

A spokesperson noted that deer populations are highly mobile and their home ranges are not constrained by land ownership or park boundaries.

Management of the population is currently being guided by a national strategy under the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

This involves Deer Management Units, managed by Farm Relief Services (FRS), which appoint coordinators to liaise between farmers and hunters to target problem areas across the county.

Training for Ireland’s first dedicated Cadaver Water Search Dog Programme officially commenced on the Lakes of Killarney.

Following a report in the Killarney Advertiser on January 2 regarding the launch of the initiative, specialist teams and their canine counterparts are now active on the water.
The programme is a collaborative effort between Killarney Water Rescue Search and Recovery, Hounds and Helis, and Ireland’s Specialist Search and Rescue Dogs (ISSARD). The training exercises involve dogs learning to detect human remains underwater, a skill designed to significantly assist emergency services during missing person searches.
A series of photographs captured this week show the dogs and their handlers undergoing drills within Killarney National Park. The exercises are conducted using both shoreline searches and boat-based operations to simulate real-life recovery scenarios where time is a critical factor.
Organiser Éadaoin O’Gorman expressed her gratitude for the local support of the volunteer-led project. The initiative aims to establish a permanent national capability for water-based canine searches, with Killarney serving as a primary training ground due to its unique lake environment.
The specialist canine teams will remain on the lakes periodically throughout the year as they work toward full certification for the 2026 national launch.