Spectacled Flying Fox Population Threatened
The IUCN status of the spectacled flying fox (Pteropus conspicillatus) is presently being reviewed, as there is abundant evidence that there has been a steep decline in their numbers over the past 30 or so years. Much of the reason for this decline stems from a traditional hatred of flying foxes, particularly by fruit farmers who often go to great lengths to persecute these animals. Spectacled flying foxes are largely restricted to the Wet Tropics of Queensland, north of Cardwell/Mission Beach.
In the Cairns district alone at least 6 major flying fox camps have been obliterated by burning, gassing and explosives over the past 30 years. Flying fox camps near Ingham and Innisfail have been similarly treated. Despite their listing as protected fauna, shooting, electrocution, and lately, poisoning are being used by farmers to control animals raiding exotic fruit orchards (lychees, rambutans and even bananas). Queensland farmers are able to obtain a Damage Mitigation Permit from Queensland National Parks, but rarely if ever abide by the conditions, and are never prosecuted for breaching them.
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| Shown here are two dead flying foxes caught in a "Fyre Fox" electrocution system, which is strung above the trees in an orchard. Bats touching the wires are supposedly instantly and literally fried. Most of the animals killed are the male "scouts"- the rationale being that "these boys won't go back and tell the colony that there's a feed on". |
| Images From the Field Spectacled flying foxes electrocuted at Boswell's orchard hanging off the Fyre Fox wires. | (Photo Carol Booth) 
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A court case, the first to apply the newly introduced Federal Government's Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, is being mounted to gain a stay of execution for the flying foxes. This is being brought forward by the North Queensland Conservation Council, and in particular, by a bat carer, Dr. Carol Booth of Townsville, with the legal support of the Environmental Defender's Office. The Austrop Foundation is helping to defray court costs.
Carol has visited the orchard, and has filmed the flying foxes being killed and injured by the Fyre Fox System.
Donation's to Austrop's "Save the Flying Fox Fund" are welcome - for Australian donors it is fully tax deductible, for US donors, it is fully tax deductible through the Tides Foundation (but only for personal checks made out to AUSTROP and sent to:
Tides Foundation and Tides Center San Francisco Offices
at The Thoreau Center for Sustainability
Presidio Building 1014 (Lincoln Blvd. & Torney Ave.)
San Francisco, CA 94129
or
Tides Foundation New York Office
40 Exchange Place, Suite 1111
New York, NY 10005
Donations to this fund will go toward education and funding the research on non-lethal deterrents being carried out at the Station. It will also be used to support the introduction of "Flying Fox Friendly" stickers for tropical fruit such as lychees, rambutans, bananas and other fruit, where the farmers have taken the trouble to install non-lethal netting and other non-lethal deterrent measures.
For taxation purposes, donations must be untied - merely specify that you wish that the money be used for a specific purpose, and the Foundation will, to the best of their ability, honor your wish.
Success in 2001
The initial court case in December 2000 was unsuccessful, so no injunction was obtained. The judge ruled that another 14 days of Fyre Fox operation "would not detract from the World Heritage values of the area" (an estimated 6,000 dead bats later). However, the farm turned off their Fyre Fox System.
A new court case commenced early in 2001, with the intent of forcing the Queensland National Parks officers to carry out their legal obligations to protect flying foxes ("Writ of Mandamus").
A press release regarding the succesful outcome of the case was given by the Australian Democrat Party
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