95 deer were shot dead in the Phoenix Park in Dublin last year, to reduce their population.
According to freedom of information figures, they were killed over four days in January and November.
The Office of Public Works says the culls are necessary to keep the deer population at between 500 and 550.
Alliance for Animal Rights spokesperson Bernie Wright says that there are other ways to manage the herd.
“I disapprove of the killing of deer because there are options and it doesn’t have to happen,” she said.
“Like America, we could change over to contraceptives for the deer because the numbers seem to the problem. Maybe some could be relocated.”
She said any contraceptive would have to be imported form the US; however, she said, “I still think it is a far kinder and more humane option than shooting these animals in front of their offspring in the park.”
The OPW has warned that, without population management, the park will not be able to produce enough food to sustain the herd.
This could lead to “welfare issues such as low body fat, malnutrition and high incidences of deaths from exposure during cold winters.”
It said rising herd numbers would also lead to a “build-up of parasites and other pathogens causing disease to spread rapidly.”
Finally, it said a lack of population control could also have a detrimental effect on the other flora and fauna in the park.
