Keep Queensland’s wildlife safe from cruelty
What is the issue?
After more than a century of slaughter, the previous Queensland Government finally banned the killing of flying-foxes for crop protection: electrocution was banned in 2001 and shooting in 2008.

Now, in 2012 the LNP Queensland government has turned back the clock and changed the laws to once again allow farmers to kill flying-foxes using methods shown to be cruel and ineffective. more...

While they promise these will be limited, the last time these measures were used, the laws were abused. Some permit holders killed many times more than their permits allowed, while authorities looked the other way. Some continued to kill flying foxes even after permits were withdrawn and only stopped after conservationists initiated legal action.

Cruelty
Many flying-foxes shot in orchards die slowly and painfully of their wounds. Electrocuted flying-foxes die in agony or slowly from electrical burns. Flying-fox babies starve to death when their mother is killed in an orchard.   more...

Environmental damage
As long-range pollinators and seed dispersers for native trees, flying-foxes play a vital ecological role. Two of Queensland’s flying-fox species are nationally threatened. For the sake of biodiversity and ecosystem health, flying-foxes should be protected not slaughtered. more...

Ineffectiveness
Killing flying-foxes does not work as a method of crop protection. This has been the view of farmers for the past 150 years. Full exclusion netting is the only consistently effective method for protecting fruit crops, and is recommended by governments and industry experts.  more...

What the Qld Government Says
Despite all of our efforts so far, the Queensland Government has passed these inhumane regulations, having them formally gazetted on Friday September 7 2012. Ironically, on Threatened Species Day. more... 
We intend to continue to fight this abhorrent situation and will be asking anyone with an interest in conservation and animal welfare to do so as well. Keep watching for updates here on this website and on our facebook page.
What welfare and conservation groups say 
Queensland’s major animal welfare and conservation organisations oppose lethal methods of crop protection. More than 40 organisations have called for all political parties to commit to protecting Australian flying-foxes by:
  • Permitting only humane non-lethal methods of crop protection, as required under Queensland’s Nature Conservation Act 1992.
  • Assisting fruit growers to adopt effective non-lethal methods of crop protection.
  • Implementing measures to recover populations of threatened flying-fox species and sustain all flying-fox species to promote healthy ecosystems
.See the full statement here 
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What You Say
We received thousands of messages of support from across Queensland and around the world. As one person from California said "Killing bats is not Okay...and to kill in such an inhumane way... Have pride in your country, the rest of the world is now watching you!"   more.. 
Grey Cross Challenge
Feb 01 2013: For those with a creative bent, who want to help our cause - we challenge you to create a short but impactful video - and be in the running to win a prize valued at $450.  For all the details go to www.thegreycross.org/the-challenge.html
Facebook
Please note that our official facebook page, with all the latest news and information can be reached by clicking on the icon above. While there are other pages that share our goals, this is the only one we are associated with and responsible for.
The Committee considers that the shooting of flying-foxes to control predation in the fruit crop industry is inhumane

Qld Animal Welfare Advisory Committee [1]
Flying-foxes are crucial to keeping native forests healthy. They play an important role in dispersing seeds and pollinating flowering plants.

Qld Government [2]
We do not agree with the shooting of native birds and bats. It may seem like an easy way out but it does little to improve profitability. Nets have saved our crops and therefore our profits 100 per cent.

Orchardist John Gough
References
[1] AWAC (2008) Animal Welfare Advisory Committee’s Recommendations. Advice to the Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries, The Honourable Tim Mulherin.
[2] Queensland Government (2011) Importance of flying foxes.
[3] NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change (2002) DECC Policy for the mitigation of damage to commercial fruit crops by flying-foxes.
Banner image N.Edards, Other images from top: (1) J. Miles (2) Courtesy Native Animal Trust fund (3-6) S. Amesbury