Life for flying-foxes will continue to get worse if we, as individuals do not fight back against harmful policies and legislative changes by the Qld government.
We beg you to please send emails to all of the people listed below who have the ability to influence some of the decision making. Apparently the anti bat correspondence is flooding into EHP and there are NO emails/correspondence from people who are pro-bat.
Please spend a few minutes and send a few emails, if you could do this once a month it could very well change the shameful direction we are currently headed.
Here is a draft email for you to use as a guide to send to the government contacts listed at the bottom of this email.
Please delete from this line up and change the subject line. Thank you for helping to make a difference.
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Dear CHOOSE ONE [Premier, Environment Minister, Director Wildlife, Director General]
I strongly object to the government’s policies and actions that undermine protection of flying-foxes, ecologically important and protected native wildlife in this state.
Permits to shoot bats for orchard protection have been proven to be cruel and unnecessary, especially when there are nonfatal alternatives available to farmers. Netting is the only effective method to prevent crop losses from a range of animals, not just bats. No animal should be subjected to the slow death that occurs for flying-foxes wounded in orchards or young flying-foxes that starve due to their mother being shot.
I also strong object to dispersals of flying-foxes from urban areas where there is no regard for animals welfare, and most of which are unnecessary and a waste of money. To issue dispersal permits to cater to the whims of a small minority of people is short sighted, poor management, and cruel. What communities need now more than ever is education about low disease risk and about bat behaviour.
I request the government to (1). Cease issuing damage mitigation permits to shoot flying-foxes in orchards. (2) Focus on community education and better flying-fox camp management as the preferred approach to urban flying-foxes. Education is vital to overcome fear of flying-foxes and promote sustainable co-existence.
Yours sincerely
[your name]
Office of the Premier
Premier Campbell Newman
PO Box 15185
City East
Qld 4002
Email: thepremier@premiers.qld.gov.au
Office of the Hon. Andrew Powell MP
Minister for Environment and Heritage Protection
GPO Box 2454
Brisbane
QLD 4001
Email: environment@ministerial.qld.gov.au
Mr Andrew Chesterman
Director General
Department Of Environment, Heritage and Protection
Email: andrew.chesterman@ehp.qld.gov.au
Rebecca Williams
Director Wildlife
Department of Environment, Heritage and Protection
Email: rebecca.williams@ehp.qld.gov.au
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