Culling of Grey-headed flying foxes in the Melbourne Botanic Gardens

Dominique Thiriet. Flying-fox Rescue Coordinator. Townsville, Qld

Grey-headed flying-foxes have established a colony at the Melbourne Botanic Gardens (MBG) since the 1980's. They are a nomadic species and their resident populaion size varies from 2,000 - 5,000, but increases to up to 8,000 - 20,000 for a short period (2-3months) each year in the summer.

The flying-foxes use an area of the Gardens called the Fern Gully. The area is particularly attractive to the flying-foxes as it is regularly irrigated. The concentration of animals landing and roosting in the one area has resulted in damage to tree limbs. Faeces deposited in the area also damages the undergrowth.

Now the MBG is killing the flying-foxes in extremely controversial circumstances.

Grey-headed flying foxes are found in three Australian States, south east Queensland, coastal New South Wales and Victoria. The Melbourne Botanic Gardens colony is the only permanent flying fox camp site and the only breeding camp site for flying foxes in Victoria. It is the southernmost permanent camp in the world of any flying fox species (ie it has international and biogeographical significance). The flying-foxes move throughout their known distribution from south-east Queensland to Victoria, including the MBG, following changes in the local abundance and quality of their food. It is believed that their movements southwards (ie into Victoria and the MBG) has been caused by a loss of habitat in northern states.

The population of Grey-headed flying-foxes is declining rapidly in south east Queensland and NSW (30% in the last 10 years) and is due to loss of habitat, culling and disturbance of roosting sites and the fact that they are slow breeders. Consequently, Grey-headed flying foxes have been recommended to be listed as Vulnerable in NSW, as well as for Federal listing under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act according to IUCN conservation status criteria. The status of this species is currently under review by the Queensland Government. The Victorian Government Scientific Advisory Committee has also recently recommended that the species be listed as vulnerable but the Minister responsible has refused to follow this advice, presumably to allow the killing in the RMBG to go ahead. This is the first time ever that a Minister has refused to accept such advice.

The MBG management has announced that it wants to get rid of "all" the flying-foxes in the Gardens, not just reduce the population. It says it has developed a management program but this document is not available for public consultation. A few months ago, it commenced a public campaign to demonise the flying-foxes, using leaflets, signs and the media to spread alarmist and incorrect information about health risks. I t has stopped cleaning the Fern Gully area so as to make it look unattractive - and then blames the animals for the mess.

The MBG management says it has tried to move the flying-foxes but has not tried all the techniques which were suggested. It has failed to consult with most of flying-fox scientists. Some of the techniques it used have been clearly inappropriate in the circumstances. It has also refused to modify horticultural practices to mitigate the damage, for example by netting vulnerable trees or hosing the vulnerable undergrowth to rinse the faeces. It has commenced the culling even thought most of the animals will soon be flying north for the winter, and without waiting for the implementation of a relocation trial.

The cull is highly controversial because many Australians would prefer to preserve the intelligent and beautiful flying-foxes rather than a few exotic trees.

Given that the animals' move over a huge area, culling in the MBG would result in the killing of animals from NSW and south east Queensland. Animals killed in the MBG would be replaced by more animals from NSW and south east Queensland. To be successful, the cull would have to continue until all the flying foxes in NSW and south east Queensland were exterminated. Because of the continual and regular arrival of interstate flying foxes at the MBG, culling the present population of flying foxes will only ensure that the problem will continue for a long time. This has been compared to the effect of a black hole, sucking in a steady supply of bats to destruction in the Gardens. In short, the culling will not protect the Gardens but will eventually achieve the extermination of the species.

Flying foxes have a significant role to play in the dispersal of seeds and pollination of native forests in eastern Australia. Their disappearance would impact on native forests throughout its range.

There is also much concern about the cruelty involved in the killing. Animals are shot while flying in the dark. This is most likely to cause a large number of injuries. Young who may still be dependent on their mothers and unable to fly will be left starving to death in the trees.

Animal activists have tried unsuccessfully to stop the night shooting. Scientists and members of the public have attempted to discuss the matter with the MBG management, the government and the company carrying on the culling , but to no avail: calls are not returned, letters are ignored.

Flying foxes also roost in the Sydney Botanic Gardens where culling has not been considered necessary for flying fox management, and other options are being trialed. The colony there is promoted as a tourist attraction.

A campaign to boycott Melbourne as a tourist destination has commenced.