Press Release

Philip Moors, Director MBG, 27th March 2001

I want to confirm that we will be proceeding to cull bats from the Botanic Gardens.

The damage to trees and plants has significantly worsened in the past 4 weeks. This is an unprecedented crisis.

I have said on other occasions, it gives us at the Gardens no joy at all in having to cull these animals.

The cull will be done at times when there is no risk to the public. Trained and authorized contractors, Wildpro, will undertake the work. The animals will be killed humanely, using methods acceptable to the RSPCA.

It will involve Trapping bats in a large "harp trap" and then euthanasing them by lethal injection or CO-2 gassing, or Shooting with highly accurate, low velocity ammunition.

I recognise this is going to upset some people. But there will also be many, many others who will say, "It's about time. Get on with it."

The media and public will know threats have been made against the heritage and rare trees in the Gardens, including a threat to kill one tree for every bat culled. I think you will understand then why I do not intend to give a running commentary on the culling operation.

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. It will be the minimum number needed to save the Gardens. We do not want to encourage any self-styled eco-terrorists to make revenge attacks on what is a world-class, living botanical collection. We would like to think they are bluffing with their threats, but I am not prepared to take the risk.

I am prepared to tell you as much as we can now, but do not want to compromise the operation or those undertaking the work, so will not be giving any further details once the cull begins.

Dr Philip Moors

Media inquiries: Jean Ker Walsh on 9416 1721 or 0413 83 4646 Caroline Pitcher on 03 9252 2387 or 0408 992 714