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

21st - 27th April, 2001

· RSPCA response to the killing of flying-foxes in the MBG. 21st April. Ray Lord.

The RSPCA has been advised that the culling methods of the flying foxes has been carried out by experts and that it has been done humanely.

RSPCA Inspectors can only enter the exclusion zone when invited.

We have requested that when and if the RBG propose to carry out any more culling, we must have a presence to ensure the methods being used are in fact humane.

We have received positive feedback that our Inspectors will be advised and therefore we will attend to monitor and report on the methods used and take appropriate action if required.

Ray Lord

· Reply: 21st April. Dominique Thiriet

Dear Mr Lord

Thank you for your reply. I am disappointed that the RSPCA appears to be content with assurances that the killing is humane. The animal which was found last week with his tongue, elbow and other parts of the body blasted off would indicate otherwise.

I also recall Hugh Wirth some time ago stating that shooting was only a suitable method for killing difficult animals - not for mass killings. Why is the RSPCA now satisfied by the mass killings simply if it is satisfied that they were carried out humanely? Why is the RSPCA not opposing outright the slaughter of thousands of healthy animals, on the basis that it is totally unjustified in the circumstances. Why is the RSPCA so disinterested? because they are flying-foxes? Are they not creatures great or small?

The RSPCA needs to issue a strong statement opposing the slaughter rather than facilitating it by cloaking it with "RSPCA-approved" respectability.

Dominique Thiriet

· Easter in Melbourne. Gwen Parry-Jones. Co-Director, Wambina Flying-fox Education and Research Centre, 21st April.

After hearing of the killing in the Royal Melbourne Botanic Gardens, which started on Friday, 6th April, Kathy Davis and I left Gosford on Good Friday, by road and arrived in Melbourne on Easter Saturday afternoon (over 1,000 kms) To lend our support to the protesters.

Easter Saturday 14th April
We contacted Humaine Society Lawrence Pope and Animals Australia, Glenys Oogles and their supporters to see what we could do to help. Actually, just our support and presence was greeted with gratitude. We arranged to meet at 7 p.m. outside Gate D at the Gardens. The reason was so we could shine torches up in the trees in the street to see if any injured Flying-foxes had made it over the fence. We were shadowed by an armed security guard who constantly shone his torch in our faces. I had a torch that screwed into a beam so I played Star Wars with him. Not appreciated!!

Easter Sunday 15th April
We arrived at the Gardens early in the morning to check out Fern Gully. The first thing we noticed was how small it was. Also it was composed of European plants and as far as I could see there were only about six trees they had defoliated - NOT DESTROYED. The European trees were deciduous so of course they were losing their leaves as we enter Autumn. Another point I noticed was the number of noxious plants they had growing there.

The populace were so brain-washed that the comments heard were quite demoralising "kill the bastards", "get rid of them", "they are just like a locust(rats or mice) plague", "the diseases will kill our children" etc etc We did manage to talk to some people and tell them the truth, but most were ignorant and gullible. What is needed is a good Educational Programme.

We went off to have dinner and were back at 7 p.m. There we met two other ladies. Once again we were shining the torch in the trees. There were several cars, about six I think, that kept driving past about every half hour keeping us under surveillance. We heard some shots fired but couldn't do anything about it except cringe. About nine o'clock we were sitting on a seat OUTSIDE THE GARDENS just chatting when the Garden staff turned on the sprinklers that water the footpath. The force of the water was considerable and our cars were wet and the water spurted into the middle of the road. We were all soaked to the skin. The water cascaded down the gutter in a torrent. We were told that Melbourne has a water shortage. Kathy and I went back to the motel.

Easter Monday 16th April
Next morning we found that there had been considerable drama with the finding of a dead flying-fox, T.V. coverage and general mayhem after we had left. An objector had climbed into the Gardens and found the body on a path in Fern Gully. He had been killed on Easter Sunday, the day for rebirth. His injuries, verified by a vet, were horrific - his nose and tongue were missing, there was a wound on the back of his head and another in his body and both his main wing bones were smashed. He has been sent for an official autopsy as the extent and severity of his injuries certainly did not show a "humane killing".

We were interviewed by Channel 10, the ABC, the Age and the Sun. There was good coverage by the two TV stations and the Sun who also produced a super cartoon. I have approached the artist to see if we can use his cartoon for T shirts. Unfortunately the coverage was only in Victoria. NSW doesn't know what is going on.

Unfortunately we had to return home to the Central Coast. We would have liked to stay until the killing stopped and support these very dedicated people. Please help if you can with support and send donations to both these groups,they really need it.

· Letter of concern to Victorian Liberal Minister, Victor Perton. Henry Gzegorski.

Dear Minister Victor Perton

I support the motion to have the grey headed flying foxes protected and oppose the culling of these animals at the Melbourne Botanic Gardens.

I am a voluntary wildlife carer from central Queensland and I have been rehabilitating black flying foxes and little reds for about eight years now.

These animals come into care for a number of reasons the majority of which are man made such as power lines, barbed wire fences, gun shot, poisoning and caught in netting. Every year I am called out to rescue large numbers of baby animals because their mothers have been killed.

In the past Grey headed flying foxes were common in Queensland and often seen as far north as Rockhampton, now they are only seen in the south while only on rare occasions as far north as Bundaberg. The high mortality rate and severe reduction of suitable habitat due to land clearing and urbanisation have created a dangerous reduction of these important animals to our biodiversity.

We as masters of this country have the moral obligation to preserve all wildlife that is native to this land. We cannot allow the unnecessary slaughter of these animals to take place to satisfy the ideology of a few uncaring individuals who have ulterior motives.

It is unbelievable that the Minister for the Environment in Victoria Sherryl Garbutt should shun her responsibilities to protect the wildlife and contrary to the advise of all experts in the field including those from her department elect to have the flying foxes in the Melbourne Botanic Gardens to be killed. I plead with you to do whatever you can to prevent this act of ENVIRONMENTAL VANDALISM to take place.

Henry Grzegorski

· Victor Perton's reply: 22nd April.

Dear Henry,

Thank you for your email concerning the culling of flying foxes by the Bracks Labor Government.

The Liberal Party is as dismayed as you are to find the Minister ignoring the advice of the Government's own Scientific Advisory Committee and the outcomes of the 'Bat Forum,' which the Minister herself convened, both of which declined to recommend culling as a preferred option for evacuating the animals from the Botanical Gardens.

The Liberal Party recognises that flying foxes have grown to become an integral part of the Melbourne night skyline and that there is little or no support for the cull in the community, whilst other less destructive and harmful options are left to be explored.

Without access to the Government's additional departmental resources, it is difficult to understand the Minister's decision, based on the best advice available.

The Liberal Party continues to investigate other options, with a view to developing an alternative approach - one that will work to conserve both the Botanical Gardens and the flying foxes in peace and harmony.

As you can appreciate, the Botanical Gardens are a rich State learning resource developed for the purposes of researching, show casing and conserving rare and unusual species of flora. As the population of the flying foxes increases and the extent of the damage becomes less reversible, it is clear that timing is becoming of the essence and that something must be done to resolve the issue
quickly.

In any situation where the conservation arguments on both sides of a divide carry equal environmental merit, it is naturally extremely difficult to arrive at a policy position, which will work to appease every person.

The safe, humane and permanent evacuation of the foxes to another area, where their needs are equally well met and where the gardens are restored to their pristine environmental condition is the ideal outcome in this situation.

We thank you for your interest in this matter and hope that you will work with us to reach a suitable outcome

Yours sincerely,

Victor Perton

· Letter to BATLINE. Maggie Allmand, 25th April

I am a regular visitor to the RBG Melb. and have been jogging at dawn around the perimeter since the bats first appeared around 1982. The area known as Fern Gully has been totally neglected in recent years with the intention of highlighting the so-called destruction caused by the GHFF. In contrast, the Sydney Botanic Gardens manage their trees through regular pruning and fertilising. Given that most of the trees in Fern Gully are not growing in their natural habitat, they need more care, not less, than specimens in the Botanic Gardens of Sydney and Brisbane where there are also GHFF colonies. Healthy trees can withstand more stress than damaged and neglected trees. I have received no reply from Gardens' management as to why they allow creepers to grow over several deciduous trees and Moreton Bay Figs in the Gully and why the understorey is clogged with bark and branches from nearby eucalypts...not at all like a tropical habitat.

· Letter to BATLINE. Gwen Parry-Jones. Co-Director, Wambina Flying-fox Education and Research Centre, 26th April.

I have been pretty upset since I examined the mutilated bat on Easter Sunday night. An anti-bat person said to me "Forget the bats!" So I have. That is, I have concentrated not on just the killing of these precious animals but the overall lawlessness of the whole operation. It is bleeding obvious that appealing to all and sundry, by email, snail mail, phone and Fax, that theseanimals should not be cruelly killed secretly, is having little effect. They have been killing them each night at least since Friday 13th.

I spent most of Anzac night on the computer and found out some very interesting articles that we may be able to use. The addresses are EDO Victoria www.edo.org.au, (and check their Policy and Law Reform button), www.edo.org.au/govlinks which is the National EDO (this gives all details of all politicians both Federal and State).If you have the time, keep pressing and reading and it is very interesting. I am working on a submission and hope it will end in legal action.

What I did realise was the lack of factual information we have received. Nowhere has each tree been examined by experts and the result disclosed, advising species, if it is deciduous, whether indigenous to Australia, its age and estimated length of its life, what damage has been done and whether the damage is permanent, repairable or temporary and whether it was done by Flying-foxes. Also, whether the tree is naturally deteriorating because of disease and predation. I have been informed that the Elm Tree Beetle has had a significant effect on the Elm Trees. None of the trees are certified Heritage or Significant trees. This information was requested by the pro-bat scientists at the famous Jan 24th

Meeting but has not been forthcoming. There is also a query that should be checked legally, whether the Minister for the Environment has the power to dismiss the findings of the SAC in such a cavalier manner without proper recourse to policy and precedents. From what I read, secrecy, security guards, lack of information etc etc are all suspect as being illegal. I am considering a FOI against the RMBG. This could be very interesting to find out just what methods were considered and why Wildpro was accepted and just how much this whole exercise is costing the Victorian Taxpayer.

Gwen



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		21st - 27th April, 2001 · RSPCA response to the killing of flying-foxes in the MBG. 21st April. Ray Lord. The RSPCA has been advised that the culling methods of the flying foxes has been carried out by experts and that it has been done humanely. RSPCA Inspectors can only enter the exclusion zone when invited. We have requested that when and if the RBG propose to carry out any more culling, we must have a presence to ensure the methods being used are in fact humane. We have received positive feedback that our Inspectors will be advised and therefore we will attend to monitor and report on the methods used and take appropriate action if required. Ray Lord · Reply: 21st April. Dominique Thiriet Dear Mr Lord Thank you for your reply. I am disappointed that the RSPCA appears to be content with assurances that the killing is humane. The animal which was found last week with his tongue, elbow and other parts of the body blasted off would indicate otherwise. I also recall Hugh Wirth some time ago stating that shooting was only a suitable method for killing difficult animals - not for mass killings. Why is the RSPCA now satisfied by the mass killings simply if it is satisfied that they were carried out humanely? Why is the RSPCA not opposing outright the slaughter of thousands of healthy animals, on the basis that it is totally unjustified in the circumstances. Why is the RSPCA so disinterested? because they are flying-foxes? Are they not creatures great or small? The RSPCA needs to issue a strong statement opposing the slaughter rather than facilitating it by cloaking it with "RSPCA-approved" respectability. Dominique Thiriet · Easter in Melbourne. Gwen Parry-Jones. Co-Director, Wambina Flying-fox Education and Research Centre, 21st April. After hearing of the killing in the Royal Melbourne Botanic Gardens, which started on Friday, 6th April, Kathy Davis and I left Gosford on Good Friday, by road and arrived in Melbourne on Easter Saturday afternoon (over 1,000 kms) To lend our support to the protesters. Easter Saturday 14th April We contacted Humaine Society Lawrence Pope and Animals Australia, Glenys Oogles and their supporters to see what we could do to help. Actually, just our support and presence was greeted with gratitude. We arranged to meet at 7 p.m. outside Gate D at the Gardens. The reason was so we could shine torches up in the trees in the street to see if any injured Flying-foxes had made it over the fence. We were shadowed by an armed security guard who constantly shone his torch in our faces. I had a torch that screwed into a beam so I played Star Wars with him. Not appreciated!! Easter Sunday 15th April We arrived at the Gardens early in the morning to check out Fern Gully. The first thing we noticed was how small it was. Also it was composed of European plants and as far as I could see there were only about six trees they had defoliated - NOT DESTROYED. The European trees were deciduous so of course they were losing their leaves as we enter Autumn. Another point I noticed was the number of noxious plants they had growing there. The populace were so brain-washed that the comments heard were quite demoralising "kill the bastards", "get rid of them", "they are just like a locust(rats or mice) plague", "the diseases will kill our children" etc etc We did manage to talk to some people and tell them the truth, but most were ignorant and gullible. What is needed is a good Educational Programme. We went off to have dinner and were back at 7 p.m. There we met two other ladies. Once again we were shining the torch in the trees. There were several cars, about six I think, that kept driving past about every half hour keeping us under surveillance. We heard some shots fired but couldn't do anything about it except cringe. About nine o'clock we were sitting on a seat OUTSIDE THE GARDENS just chatting when the Garden staff turned on the sprinklers that water the footpath. The force of the water was considerable and our cars were wet and the water spurted into the middle of the road. We were all soaked to the skin. The water cascaded down the gutter in a torrent. We were told that Melbourne has a water shortage. Kathy and I went back to the motel. Easter Monday 16th April Next morning we found that there had been considerable drama with the finding of a dead flying-fox, T.V. coverage and general mayhem after we had left. An objector had climbed into the Gardens and found the body on a path in Fern Gully. He had been killed on Easter Sunday, the day for rebirth. His injuries, verified by a vet, were horrific - his nose and tongue were missing, there was a wound on the back of his head and another in his body and both his main wing bones were smashed. He has been sent for an official autopsy as the extent and severity of his injuries certainly did not show a "humane killing". We were interviewed by Channel 10, the ABC, the Age and the Sun. There was good coverage by the two TV stations and the Sun who also produced a super cartoon. I have approached the artist to see if we can use his cartoon for T shirts. Unfortunately the coverage was only in Victoria. NSW doesn't know what is going on. Unfortunately we had to return home to the Central Coast. We would have liked to stay until the killing stopped and support these very dedicated people. Please help if you can with support and send donations to both these groups,they really need it. · Letter of concern to Victorian Liberal Minister, Victor Perton. Henry Gzegorski. Dear Minister Victor Perton I support the motion to have the grey headed flying foxes protected and oppose the culling of these animals at the Melbourne Botanic Gardens. I am a voluntary wildlife carer from central Queensland and I have been rehabilitating black flying foxes and little reds for about eight years now. These animals come into care for a number of reasons the majority of which are man made such as power lines, barbed wire fences, gun shot, poisoning and caught in netting. Every year I am called out to rescue large numbers of baby animals because their mothers have been killed. In the past Grey headed flying foxes were common in Queensland and often seen as far north as Rockhampton, now they are only seen in the south while only on rare occasions as far north as Bundaberg. The high mortality rate and severe reduction of suitable habitat due to land clearing and urbanisation have created a dangerous reduction of these important animals to our biodiversity. We as masters of this country have the moral obligation to preserve all wildlife that is native to this land. We cannot allow the unnecessary slaughter of these animals to take place to satisfy the ideology of a few uncaring individuals who have ulterior motives. It is unbelievable that the Minister for the Environment in Victoria Sherryl Garbutt should shun her responsibilities to protect the wildlife and contrary to the advise of all experts in the field including those from her department elect to have the flying foxes in the Melbourne Botanic Gardens to be killed. I plead with you to do whatever you can to prevent this act of ENVIRONMENTAL VANDALISM to take place. Henry Grzegorski · Victor Perton's reply: 22nd April. Dear Henry, Thank you for your email concerning the culling of flying foxes by the Bracks Labor Government. The Liberal Party is as dismayed as you are to find the Minister ignoring the advice of the Government's own Scientific Advisory Committee and the outcomes of the 'Bat Forum,' which the Minister herself convened, both of which declined to recommend culling as a preferred option for evacuating the animals from the Botanical Gardens. The Liberal Party recognises that flying foxes have grown to become an integral part of the Melbourne night skyline and that there is little or no support for the cull in the community, whilst other less destructive and harmful options are left to be explored. Without access to the Government's additional departmental resources, it is difficult to understand the Minister's decision, based on the best advice available. The Liberal Party continues to investigate other options, with a view to developing an alternative approach - one that will work to conserve both the Botanical Gardens and the flying foxes in peace and harmony. As you can appreciate, the Botanical Gardens are a rich State learning resource developed for the purposes of researching, show casing and conserving rare and unusual species of flora. As the population of the flying foxes increases and the extent of the damage becomes less reversible, it is clear that timing is becoming of the essence and that something must be done to resolve the issue quickly. In any situation where the conservation arguments on both sides of a divide carry equal environmental merit, it is naturally extremely difficult to arrive at a policy position, which will work to appease every person. The safe, humane and permanent evacuation of the foxes to another area, where their needs are equally well met and where the gardens are restored to their pristine environmental condition is the ideal outcome in this situation. We thank you for your interest in this matter and hope that you will work with us to reach a suitable outcome Yours sincerely, Victor Perton · Letter to BATLINE. Maggie Allmand, 25th April I am a regular visitor to the RBG Melb. and have been jogging at dawn around the perimeter since the bats first appeared around 1982. The area known as Fern Gully has been totally neglected in recent years with the intention of highlighting the so-called destruction caused by the GHFF. In contrast, the Sydney Botanic Gardens manage their trees through regular pruning and fertilising. Given that most of the trees in Fern Gully are not growing in their natural habitat, they need more care, not less, than specimens in the Botanic Gardens of Sydney and Brisbane where there are also GHFF colonies. Healthy trees can withstand more stress than damaged and neglected trees. I have received no reply from Gardens' management as to why they allow creepers to grow over several deciduous trees and Moreton Bay Figs in the Gully and why the understorey is clogged with bark and branches from nearby eucalypts...not at all like a tropical habitat. · Letter to BATLINE. Gwen Parry-Jones. Co-Director, Wambina Flying-fox Education and Research Centre, 26th April. I have been pretty upset since I examined the mutilated bat on Easter Sunday night. An anti-bat person said to me "Forget the bats!" So I have. That is, I have concentrated not on just the killing of these precious animals but the overall lawlessness of the whole operation. It is bleeding obvious that appealing to all and sundry, by email, snail mail, phone and Fax, that theseanimals should not be cruelly killed secretly, is having little effect. They have been killing them each night at least since Friday 13th. I spent most of Anzac night on the computer and found out some very interesting articles that we may be able to use. The addresses are EDO Victoria www.edo.org.au, (and check their Policy and Law Reform button), www.edo.org.au/govlinks which is the National EDO (this gives all details of all politicians both Federal and State).If you have the time, keep pressing and reading and it is very interesting. I am working on a submission and hope it will end in legal action. What I did realise was the lack of factual information we have received. Nowhere has each tree been examined by experts and the result disclosed, advising species, if it is deciduous, whether indigenous to Australia, its age and estimated length of its life, what damage has been done and whether the damage is permanent, repairable or temporary and whether it was done by Flying-foxes. Also, whether the tree is naturally deteriorating because of disease and predation. I have been informed that the Elm Tree Beetle has had a significant effect on the Elm Trees. None of the trees are certified Heritage or Significant trees. This information was requested by the pro-bat scientists at the famous Jan 24th Meeting but has not been forthcoming. There is also a query that should be checked legally, whether the Minister for the Environment has the power to dismiss the findings of the SAC in such a cavalier manner without proper recourse to policy and precedents. From what I read, secrecy, security guards, lack of information etc etc are all suspect as being illegal. I am considering a FOI against the RMBG. This could be very interesting to find out just what methods were considered and why Wildpro was accepted and just how much this whole exercise is costing the Victorian Taxpayer. Gwen