The culling of grey headed flying foxes Pteropus poliocephalus in the Royal Melbourne Botanic Gardens, Victoria, Australia

1st - 31st June

· Letter to RMBG board. Gwen Parry-Jones. 1st June.

Dear Dr. McNamee,

Grey-headed Flying-foxes have been declared Vulnerable under the Threatened Species Conservation Act by the Scientific Committees of both Victoria and N.S.W. The N.S.W. Government has listed these animals under the N.S.W. TSCA.

The reasons given for their listing by both Committees was the destruction of habitat and "CULLING USING SUCH METHODS AS SHOOTING"

Surely the enormous amount of money being used in this reprehensible exercise, including the $70,000 for the Tidemann Harp Trap, could be better spent improving the Management of the Gardens rather than the killing of a Threatened species. The Sydney Botanic Gardens has made a Tourist attraction of a similar situation and as a result their attendance has greatly improved.

The shooting of the Flying-foxes has more implications that you may realize. Firstly, the number of Flying-foxes now in existence is far less than when the Scientific Committee first started their deliberations (four years ago) concerning the parlous situation with these animals, and secondly, the females that are now being shot in the Gardens are pregnant.

The secrecy that is surrounding this killing is unacceptable as valuable scientific data could be obtained from the bodies, namely, sex, age and whether the animals have been micro-chipped and banded under the Australian Bird and Bat Banding Scheme. Apart from that the secrecy, particularly the exclusion of the RSPCA, allows the killers to slaughter these animals in any way they wish, inflicting any amount of agony with no responsibility to anyone.

You and the Board, are individually and collectively responsible for the killing of a Threatened Species. Your name will carry the stigma of this action far into the future when the status of the Grey Headed Flying-fox must become closer to extinction.

I urge you to stop this killing before it is too late and the animals pass the point of no return.

Yours sincerely,
Gwenllyn Parry-Jones

· END TO THE KILLING.... Glenys Oogjes. Animals Australia. 15th June.

Hi there,
The Royal Bot Gardens has put out a media release today announcing an end to the killing of bats in the Gardens - but just for now. They still have an open ended permit to kill, provided by the Department, which does not expire until next March.

The announcement was expected because the Gardens management was still spending thousands of dollars on security because Lawrence Pope and his team was in there nightly. The public statement was provided as a trade off to reduce their presence.

The media statement is here if anyone wants it in full. Channel 7 was just here and provided it to me, and recorded an interview for tonight.

The release claims the 'cull' 'served its purpose by relieving pressure in Fern Gully at the time of unprecedented high bat numbers'.

It then talks about the alternative colony site which is under investigation. (I am told there will be some final recommendations on that issue in a couple of weeks).

The Garden's claim is that there are about 8,000 bats in the gardens now, down from almost 20,000 in March.

This is not good news, but indicates the Gardens are still under pressure,
Cheers,
Glenys Oogjes

· Media Release. MELBOURNE BOTANIC GARDENS BAT CULL END… Lawrence Pope. Humane Society for Animal Welflare. 15th June.

HSAW president Lawrence Pope said today,

"We welcome the end the Melbourne Botanic Gardens killing of endangered grey-headed flying foxes."

"Will the Minister, Sherryl Garbutt, confirm that culling is over??"

"We hope that understanding and education rather than killing and vilification will now occupy the minds of the MBG management."

There is every likelihood that greater numbers of greys will visit the gardens each year. The gardens needs to accept the facts and accept the bats - permanent."

"We hope that the MBG can come to terms with the existence of the greys and their ongoing occupation of the gardens because they're not going anywhere and neither are we (HSAW activists).

"The alternative colony roosting site is a praiseworthy initiative but it is a ten year plan. The MBG will simply have to make the best of things until those sites are fully established".

"We demand to know exactly how much money has been spent killing and vilifying the greys, how many have been killed, where their bodies have been taken and how many of those killed were microchipped, banded or tagged..."

· Update…. Lawrence Pope. Humane Society for Animal Welflare. 19th June.

On June 15th Dr Phillip Moors RMBG Director issued a statement to the effect that killing bats was finished in the RMBG. This statement was in part fulfillment of an agreement reached between HSAW and others last week. On the 18th June the agreement was completed with my receipt of a signed statement that if killing were to be considered again then that fact 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 HSAW campaign to secure the physical safety of the MBG colony was successful.

Thanks to those scientists and researchers who came out in support of the bats. We were, in significant part, protected from attack by the legitimacy your efforts provided. Thanks to the bat conservation societies who donated time and materials to help us fight. Thanks to the animal welfare societies who fought the tedious but crucial `paper war` and will continue to do so.

My greatest thanks go to that small group of activists who night after night for five months let the RMBG know that we mean't business and that we were not going away. At least three thousand grey-headed flying foxes owe their lives to you.

In the event that killing is reconsidered by the RMBG we have contingency plans in place and will intervene immediately.

If the greys are permanently protected it will be due the collective efforts of those who will simply not accept their decline into extinction or their further persecution.

Our next ghff task is to undertake an education campaign before they return in numbers next summer and to help the Dept of Natural Resources and the Environment `sell` the sanctuaries idea and locations to the general public.

Any actions undertaken by Bat Societies to assist in de-stigmatising and un-demonising the greys would be warmly welcomed down here.

· Removal of Bat-hate signs by MBG. Lawrence Pope. Humane Society for Animal Welflare. 24th June.

Dear Batpeople,

As a result of further constructive contact the the Dept of Natural Resources it has been agreed that the large bat-hate signs displayed in the RMBG will be removed this week.

I have also received further assurances that if killing were ever even to be considered at the RMBG that HSAW, and the general public, would be informed well in advance.

HSAW can now look forward to a constructive role in assisting to inform and educate the people of Victoria about the Grey-headed flying foxes we have the great good fortune to have among us.



The collective views of scientists, wildlife carers and animal-rights groups over the culling of grey headed flying foxes in the Royal Melbourne Botanic Gardens All flying-fox photos copyright © 2001Vivien Jones		1st - 31st June · Letter to RMBG board. Gwen Parry-Jones. 1st June. Dear Dr. McNamee, Grey-headed Flying-foxes have been declared Vulnerable under the Threatened Species Conservation Act by the Scientific Committees of both Victoria and N.S.W. The N.S.W. Government has listed these animals under the N.S.W. TSCA. The reasons given for their listing by both Committees was the destruction of habitat and "CULLING USING SUCH METHODS AS SHOOTING" Surely the enormous amount of money being used in this reprehensible exercise, including the $70,000 for the Tidemann Harp Trap, could be better spent improving the Management of the Gardens rather than the killing of a Threatened species. The Sydney Botanic Gardens has made a Tourist attraction of a similar situation and as a result their attendance has greatly improved. The shooting of the Flying-foxes has more implications that you may realize. Firstly, the number of Flying-foxes now in existence is far less than when the Scientific Committee first started their deliberations (four years ago) concerning the parlous situation with these animals, and secondly, the females that are now being shot in the Gardens are pregnant. The secrecy that is surrounding this killing is unacceptable as valuable scientific data could be obtained from the bodies, namely, sex, age and whether the animals have been micro-chipped and banded under the Australian Bird and Bat Banding Scheme. Apart from that the secrecy, particularly the exclusion of the RSPCA, allows the killers to slaughter these animals in any way they wish, inflicting any amount of agony with no responsibility to anyone. You and the Board, are individually and collectively responsible for the killing of a Threatened Species. Your name will carry the stigma of this action far into the future when the status of the Grey Headed Flying-fox must become closer to extinction. I urge you to stop this killing before it is too late and the animals pass the point of no return. Yours sincerely, Gwenllyn Parry-Jones · END TO THE KILLING.... Glenys Oogjes. Animals Australia. 15th June. Hi there, The Royal Bot Gardens has put out a media release today announcing an end to the killing of bats in the Gardens - but just for now. They still have an open ended permit to kill, provided by the Department, which does not expire until next March. The announcement was expected because the Gardens management was still spending thousands of dollars on security because Lawrence Pope and his team was in there nightly. The public statement was provided as a trade off to reduce their presence. The media statement is here if anyone wants it in full. Channel 7 was just here and provided it to me, and recorded an interview for tonight. The release claims the 'cull' 'served its purpose by relieving pressure in Fern Gully at the time of unprecedented high bat numbers'. It then talks about the alternative colony site which is under investigation. (I am told there will be some final recommendations on that issue in a couple of weeks). The Garden's claim is that there are about 8,000 bats in the gardens now, down from almost 20,000 in March. This is not good news, but indicates the Gardens are still under pressure, Cheers, Glenys Oogjes · Media Release. MELBOURNE BOTANIC GARDENS BAT CULL END… Lawrence Pope. Humane Society for Animal Welflare. 15th June. HSAW president Lawrence Pope said today, "We welcome the end the Melbourne Botanic Gardens killing of endangered grey-headed flying foxes." "Will the Minister, Sherryl Garbutt, confirm that culling is over??" "We hope that understanding and education rather than killing and vilification will now occupy the minds of the MBG management." There is every likelihood that greater numbers of greys will visit the gardens each year. The gardens needs to accept the facts and accept the bats - permanent." "We hope that the MBG can come to terms with the existence of the greys and their ongoing occupation of the gardens because they're not going anywhere and neither are we (HSAW activists). "The alternative colony roosting site is a praiseworthy initiative but it is a ten year plan. The MBG will simply have to make the best of things until those sites are fully established". "We demand to know exactly how much money has been spent killing and vilifying the greys, how many have been killed, where their bodies have been taken and how many of those killed were microchipped, banded or tagged..." · Update…. Lawrence Pope. Humane Society for Animal Welflare. 19th June. On June 15th Dr Phillip Moors RMBG Director issued a statement to the effect that killing bats was finished in the RMBG. This statement was in part fulfillment of an agreement reached between HSAW and others last week. On the 18th June the agreement was completed with my receipt of a signed statement that if killing were to be considered again then that fact 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 HSAW campaign to secure the physical safety of the MBG colony was successful. Thanks to those scientists and researchers who came out in support of the bats. We were, in significant part, protected from attack by the legitimacy your efforts provided. Thanks to the bat conservation societies who donated time and materials to help us fight. Thanks to the animal welfare societies who fought the tedious but crucial `paper war` and will continue to do so. My greatest thanks go to that small group of activists who night after night for five months let the RMBG know that we mean't business and that we were not going away. At least three thousand grey-headed flying foxes owe their lives to you. In the event that killing is reconsidered by the RMBG we have contingency plans in place and will intervene immediately. If the greys are permanently protected it will be due the collective efforts of those who will simply not accept their decline into extinction or their further persecution. Our next ghff task is to undertake an education campaign before they return in numbers next summer and to help the Dept of Natural Resources and the Environment `sell` the sanctuaries idea and locations to the general public. Any actions undertaken by Bat Societies to assist in de-stigmatising and un-demonising the greys would be warmly welcomed down here. · Removal of Bat-hate signs by MBG. Lawrence Pope. Humane Society for Animal Welflare. 24th June. Dear Batpeople, As a result of further constructive contact the the Dept of Natural Resources it has been agreed that the large bat-hate signs displayed in the RMBG will be removed this week. I have also received further assurances that if killing were ever even to be considered at the RMBG that HSAW, and the general public, would be informed well in advance. HSAW can now look forward to a constructive role in assisting to inform and educate the people of Victoria about the Grey-headed flying foxes we have the great good fortune to have among us.