Published on Nov 21, 2013
This video documents the cruelty inflicted on flying-foxes in Western Qld. Since their arrival in this town, they had been subject to unauthorised and illegal disturbance. There is speculation that this colony of bats vacated their previous roost because of the harassment that is becoming increasingly common in Queensland.
The video clearly shows the bats being subject to ongoing noise and light disturbance including police sirens, after the local council successfully applied for a permit to disperse the colony. One can clearly see a tree being felled while there are still bats roosting on it. Unable to roost, these bats were pushed to the point of exhaustion by these methods. But things deteriorated even further.
A few hours after this video was taken, the flying-foxes settled near a local lake, which is where council had hoped they would roost. But soon after that, the sound of shotguns rang out as bats were illegally shot at that site. No charges were ever filed against the shooter.
Despite their ecologically vital role as seed dispersers and pollinators, flying-foxes are now persecuted without mercy in Queensland under the very law that is meant to protect them.
The camp at Charters Towers is a maternity colony, and newborn flying-foxes will die from starvation as mothers are driven away with the dispersal approved for early December. The planned use of helicopters, water cannons, sirens, smoke and foggers will be unleashed on defenceless babies and their mothers.
Misinformation is peddled as fact by community leaders who promote fear and ignorance to justify these inhumane dispersals. There is no doubt that cruelty and death will be dealt to these animals in Charters Towers on the 9th December 2013 unless compassionate people like YOU do something NOW.
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