No shooting of flying foxes under damage mitigation permits
Information about the cessation of issue of Damage Mitigation Permits for Flying Foxes
The Honourable Mr Andrew McNamara, Minister for Sustainability, Climate Change and Innovation announced on Thursday, 15 May 2008 that the department will not be issuing new damage mitigation permits for shooting flying foxes after 1 September 2008.
The decision to stop issuing damage mitigation permits for shooting flying foxes follows a recent finding from the Animal Welfare Advisory Committee that shooting flying foxes is inhumane. The key considerations made by the committee were:
- Flying foxes, like all mammals, feel pain.
- Shooting involved trying to target a small dark coloured animal in flight in low light conditions using a shotgun.
- Under the shooting conditions, there is a potential for wounding rather than an outright kill and if wounded animals cannot be located they may be subject to prolonged dying.
Under the Nature Conservation (Wildlife Management) Regulation 2006 (section 185), the department may only grant a damage mitigation permit if the proposed way of taking the animal is humane and not likely to cause unnecessary suffering to the animal.
What is the Animal Welfare Advisory Committee?
The Animal Welfare Advisory Committee is an expert committee established under the Animal Care and Protection Act 2001 (section 211), to provide advice on animal welfare issues to the Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries.
The Animal Welfare Advisory Committee aims to improve the welfare of animals in Queensland by providing forward-looking advice on welfare legislation, policy, strategies and programs. It takes into consideration other relevant matters such as good practice, national and international trends, practicalities, public opinion, scientific knowledge and economic implications.
Further information about the Animal Welfare Advisory Committee can be found on the Department of Primary Industries Website at www.dpi.qld.gov.au
Netting, an alternative to shooting
The number of damage mitigation permit applications for shooting flying foxes has been declining as growers increasingly move to securing their crops by netting. Nets also exclude birds and may protect against insect pests and hail damage. The costs of netting can be offset by improvements in fruit quality and yield and shorter sorting and packaging times.
The Queensland Rural Adjustment Authority will accept applications for low interest loans from growers who want to install exclusion netting for the control of flying foxes.
Further information about the Queensland Rural Adjustment Authority including an outline of the assistance available can be found at www.qraa.qld.gov.au/ or call 1800 623 946.
Last updated: 07 July 2008