BLACK FRIDAY
Remembering 7 September 2012: Threatened Species Day
Threatened Species Day 2012 was marked by a decision by the Queensland government to sanction the killing of flying foxes - including two threatened species - Spectacled and Grey-headed flying-foxes. This reversed the 2008 decision of the previous government to ban shooting because it was inhumane. The government issues "Damage Mitigation Permits" to allow fruit-growers to shoot flying-foxes.
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There are major restrictions on the environment department’s capacity to monitor compliance, including a lack of staff and funding. Conserv-ationists believe that several thousand dependent young could also die as a direct result of the shooting.
Click here to see the reactions to this Qld Government decision. |
The former Qld government had banned the shooting of flying-foxes in 2008 after the government's Animal Welfare Advisory Committee found it was inhumane.
Fruit growers can protect their crops more effectively with nets, costing as little as $8,000 per hectare. |
1. Qld Government media release: New rules will protect Queensland’s dugong and turtles
2. Qld Government media release: North Queensland company fined over wildlife deaths 3. Report on deaths and injuries to Grey-headed Flying foxes, shot in an orchard near Sydney, NSW. Divljan, Parry-Jones, Eby, 2009 |