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On April, 11th 2001 the Royal Melbourne Botanic Gardens began shooting its resident population of grey-headed flying foxes. This is the worlds southern most flying fox camp, and the only breeding colony of grey-headed flying foxes in Victoria.

At the start of the culling, Dr Philip Moors, director of the RMBG issued the press statement "I do not intend to give a running commentary on the culling operations. I will not be releasing details of when the operation begins or how it proceeds. Nor will I be giving out progressive numbers of bats culled.”

This web site covers the history of events surrounding the culling, as well as the collective concerns of scientists, wildlife carers and animal-rights groups over the culling.

On June 15th, 2001 (nine weeks after the fatal shooting began) Dr Moors, issued a statement that killing of Grey-headed flying foxes was finished. This statement was in part fulfillment of an agreement reached between Humane Society for Animal Welfare and others.

On the 18th June the agreement was completed with the receipt of a signed statement that if killing were to be considered again then this would be made public knowledge in the form of a media release by either the gov't or the RMBG.

We can now say, with a meaure of confidence, that the greys are safe in the RMBG for the time being. In short, the campaign to secure the physical safety of the MBG colony was successful.

Our overwhelming thanks goes out to the the Humane Society for Animal Welfare, Animals Australia, and the scientists and members of the public who helped to bring an end to the killing. It is without doubt that several thousand flying foxes owe their lives to you.

In the words of Lawrence Pope, President of the HSAW "We hope that understanding and education rather than killing and vilification will now occupy the minds of the MBG management."

There are still many questions that remain unanswered - how many bats were killed? How much money was spent by the MBG to vilify and slaughter the animals? Why was the MBG never accountable to the public or the government? What have we learned from tragedy?

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