Queensland The government has abandoned plans to stop the killing of flying foxes from July 2026, continuing a practice that wildlife activists and scientists call “ineffective” and “inhumane”.
The permits, issued by the state's environment department, allow Queensland farmers to shoot flying foxes for crop protection, up to an annual statewide quota of 1,630 animals. This includes 130 grey-headed flying foxes, listed as vulnerable under federal environmental laws, as well as 700 black and 800 little red flying foxes.
The three-year waiver was announced in 2023 and was scheduled to end by July 1, 2026, at which point shooting would no longer be permitted. The long deadline was intended to give farmers time to move to non-lethal alternatives, such as protective netting that creates a physical barrier between bats and produce.
However, the state is calm reverse course in Decemberlifting the ban.
Sign up: AU Breaking News email
Lawrence Pope, a spokesman for Friends of Bats and Bush, said the shooting of flying foxes was “barbaric” given that many animals died slowly and females carrying young were often “cruelly smashed with pellets”. He added that while the endangered spectacled flying foxes are not part of the quota, they are at risk due to the difficulty of reliably distinguishing between different species at night.
Pope said the “surprising step back” was taken without consultation with conservationists or environmental groups.
An impact analysis indicated that the department had consulted with local governments and industry.
This was announced by a representative of the Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation. Flying fox damage mitigation permits, which allow the “lethal harvest” of flying foxes by shooting, will remain available “to support farmers in protecting commercial fruit crops” where “all other management options have been exhausted or are not available.”
According to the department, anyone with a permit since Sept. 1, 2012, could apply for a permit to kill animals provided they had used at least two non-lethal methods.
Over 10 years, the program has killed more than 20,000 flying foxes, according to the Queensland government. delivered to ABC.
Australasian Bat Society categorically objected to the shooting of flying foxes, which he called ineffective in reducing crop damage and inhumane, given that “the likelihood of a clean, instant kill is low, and most animals shot die slowly.”
In a statement on its website, the society said the ripening of the fruits coincided with the flying foxes' breeding season, meaning females were often shot while pregnant or nursing their cubs. “If a female is killed or injured so that she cannot return to the flying fox camp, her lone cub, which depends on her milk, will die slowly over a few days.”
Jenny McLean, from Tolga Bath Hospital in the Atherton Tablelands in Queensland, said farmers had a three-year phase-out period to “get into action” and install a safety net, which many good producers have done. “If they can’t afford netting, they shouldn’t grow fruit crops.”
Rebecca Appleton, who works as an educator and rescuer for Bat Conservation and Rescue Queensland, said the netting was effective in protecting crops without killing bats.
“We would like to ask the government to invest more money in helping the remaining farms set up such a system. [rather] rather than continue to allow shootings,” she said. “Better for farmers and bats – everyone wins.”
Industry groups have been contacted for comment.
