A golf club in Tasmania has pulled the pin on culling "damaging" native wildlife due to community backlash.
The Greens Beach Golf Club had been granted permission from the state's environment department to shoot wallabies it said were impacting the course.
It prompted a wave of criticism on social media, as well as from a wildlife carer's body.
The club's board met on Thursday and has indicated it will pursue other means of managing the local wildlife population.
"The Greens Beach Golf Club understands the need to meet community expectations in relation to the management of the local wildlife population," it said in a statement.
"Whilst there have been strident views from either end of the spectrum, including personal abuse of staff, sponsors and members, the club sees the potential for this matter to divide the community and wishes to avoid that risk."
An online petition against the proposed cull garnered almost 11,000 signatures after being set up last week.
The club, which also intended to shoot rabbits, planned to turn the wallabies into pet food.
It will now bring forward a fencing project and use audio and visual deterrents to dissuade wildlife from accessing the course.
The club says it will be "inviting donations from those who have expressed their concerns through social media" to help fund the fencing.
The Animal Justice Party was critical of the proposed cull, labelling it ineffective and seeking to destroy animals that are simply trying to survive.
Australian Associated Press
