A council spokesperson says: "Heat stress events, urban development and increased construction in close proximity to the Cairns City Library roost will continue to stress and adversely affect the spectacled flying fox population. Credit: Justin A. Welbergen, Noel D Preece and Penny van Oosterzee. But when the spectacled flying-fox was finally declared endangered in February 2019, they already qualified as critically endangered, according to official guidelines. The Conversation sought a response to this article from Cairns Regional Council. Now, another unique species, a fruit bat known as the Mauritian flying fox, is being pushed toward extinction. the Science X network is one of the largest online communities for science-minded people. Endangered spectacled flying-foxes are set to be dispersed from their camp in Cairns CBD, one of the last strongholds of the species. In this case, the act's well-intentioned protection measures caused far more harm than good. Bat carers in Cairns are readying themselves for an influx of casualties from the dispersal. Proc. The Cairns camp was then subjected to a series of EPBC-approved roost tree removals in 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017. Spectacled flying-foxes are important pollinators and seed dispersers in Australia’s Wet Tropics. The announcements come after Guardian Australia published concerns from environment groups who described the minister as “invisible” during a summer of natural disasters and accused her delaying decisions in her portfolio and not meeting with key groups. Instead, the flying-foxes formed a permanent camp at Yarra Bend, one kilometer short of the intended destination, where they're now subjected to renewed calls for culling or dispersal. conspicillatus) and the Christmas Island Flying-fox (Pteropus melanotus natalis) are listed under national environmental law (Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, the EPBC Act). The program is tailored to minimize any stress on the animals and causes no injury of any type. Some bat carers have sadly reached the conclusion the dispersal is now the least-bad option for the bats after their stronghold suffered a death by a thousand cuts, leaving their home unviable. Spectacled Flying Foxes, listed as endangered under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth) (EPBC Act) since February 2019, are a keystone species that move rainforest and other tree seeds from one isolated patch of rainforest to another. And in 2015, Cairns Aquarium developers had to destroy trees home to hundreds of spectacled flying-foxes before they could start construction. I am concerned about the plans to disperse the spectacled flying-foxes from the nationally important camp in the Cairns City Library grounds. We will introduce the concept of “wildlife friendly fencing” to the public, and trial fencing methods that minimise the likelihood of … Identify the news topics you want to see and prioritize an order. Please, allow us to send you push notifications with new Alerts. The spectacled flying fox Bronto is in recovery at Tolga Bat Hospital after crashing into a tree and being impaled on branches in the Cairns CBD on Saturday. Cairns Regional Council argues their decision to attempt to move the bats to the Cairns Central Swamp is in the long-term interest of their survival. Spectacled flying fox Conservation (more information at Conservation of Australian Flying Foxes) Bat conservation is a key aspect of our work at Tolga Bat Hospital. 1849:109-112. This directly contradicts the specific EPBC Act referral guideline, which states actions to manage the flying-fox camps should not significantly impact the species. It’s an incredibly significant site for the Endangered species and is recognised as one of just twenty ‘Nationally Important Camps’ that should be conserved. You can be assured our editors closely monitor every feedback sent and will take appropriate actions. Guardian Australia published concerns from environment groups. In February 2019, the Australian government upgraded the conservation status of the spectacled flying fox from vulnerable to endangered, after almost a third (an estimated 20,000+) of the bat population died in a severe heatwave in Queensland in late 2018. Humane Society International nominated the species for an endangered listing and the decision is one of five the group said had been delayed with the minister. According to the Australian Government Department of the Environment, the total population of the Spectacled flying foxes’ is around 80,000 individuals. Decline of the rainforest specialist. Up to 20,000 animals died late last year; decision is one of several made by Melissa Price after criticism over inaction, Last modified on Fri 22 Feb 2019 00.21 EST. The Spectacled Flying-fox is listed as vulnerable, being revised to endangered Throughout the Wet Tropics, Whybird and colleagues (2000 cited in McIlwee & Martin 2002) noted a loss of 15 permanent camps (a total population of 610 000 individuals) between 1985 and 2000. Credit: Inigo Merriman. The social structure of an Old World tent‐making bat Cynopterus sphinx (Megachiroptera), was investigated in western India. The federal government has upgraded the threatened status of a flying fox after almost a third of its population was wiped out in Queensland’s recent heatwave. We use cookies to improve your experience on our site. “After 18 months of pointless delays by her predecessor Josh Frydenberg, Minister Price has finally given spectacled flying-foxes the endangered listing they have been in desperate need of,” said HSI’s head of programs, Evan Quartermain. , Since 2015, the government has … Thank you for taking your time to send in your valued opinion to Science X editors. Today, the camp is not only home to a big portion of the species, but also around 2,000 pups each year. Zool. Your feedback will go directly to Science X editors. (1850) On new species of Mammaliia and birds from Australia. Flying-foxes are extremely mobile in the region, so the camp provides a roosting habitat for more than what's present at any one time. Subsequent monitoring has, so far, shown no sign of recovery. In 2017 the government’s own Threatened Species Scientific Committee advised listing the species as endangered, … Your opinions are important to us. They also risk shifting the issues to other parts of our human communities, as the bats tend to end up settling in an unanticipated location after having been shuffled around town like a game of musical chairs. But after recent catastrophic declines in spectacled flying-fox numbers, moving them from their home further threatens the species survival. Spectacled Flying Foxes are a very special part of Far North Queensland and are a key pollinator for our beautiful rainforests. Spectacled flying foxes have distinctive straw-coloured fur around the eyes which gives them their name. The Spectacled flying-fox A community perspective Maree Treadwell Kerr BatSoc Inc CRC Flying-fox Advisory Committee Australasian Bat Society Wildlife Tourism Australia Griffith University. Spectacled flying foxes (SFF) were originally listed as vulnerable in 2002 and up-listed to endangered in 2019 with population data supplied by CSIRO. This site uses cookies to assist with navigation, analyse your use of our services, and provide content from third parties. A spectacled flying-fox pup orphaned by the heat wave in Queensland which wiped out one third of population. They are a significant long distance pollinator of the World Heritage listed Wet Tropics in northeast Queensland. Phys.org™ (formerly Physorg.com) is a leading web-based science, research and technology news service which covers a full range of topics. It is estimated more than 20,000 flying foxes died in extreme heat in Queensland late last year. This planned dispersal – which the council says is in the interests of the species—is set to conclude a long series of controversial management actions at the site. Spectacled flying fox (Mammal) — transferred from vulnerable to endangered category Carpentarian rock rat (Mammal) — retained in endangered category Mossman fairy orchid (Plant) — retained as critically endangered category Haines's orange mangrove (Plant) — included in critically endangered category by Justin A. Welbergen, Noel D Preece, Penny Van Oosterzee Council believes relocation will mitigate human/flying fox conflict, enable the trees at the library to recover, and will likely reduce the high rates of pup mortality that have been recorded at the library colony. Most come in as as result of tick paralysis, some from entanglement on barbed wire fences, and a few from entanglement in netting over backyard fruit trees. In the meantime, the national conservation status of the spectacled flying-fox moved too slowly from "vulnerable" to "endangered" in the listing process. A Rodrigues flying fox flying at the Zürich Zoologischer Garten. But these animal welfare concerns arose from the accumulated impacts of the council's poor management actions, or actions the council supported. The camp may now be non-viable for the flying-foxes. Also, the health of roost trees at the library site, and therefore the viability of the site as a spectacled flying fox roost, is diminishing. The review of the EPBC Act must see strengthened legislation to prevent such tragic outcomes for our threatened species. Phys.org is a part of Science X network. IT WAS NOVEMBER Of 1990 when Bruce and Ann Johnson decided to check whether a recent cyclone had caused any damage to a local colony of spectacled flying foxes (Pteropus conspicillatus) near their home in Millaa Millaa, North Queensland in Australia. 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