Questions over relocation

RE: Cairns Flying-fox Relocation Management Plan R07.

The proposal by the Cairns Regional Council (CRC) to relocate the endangered spectacled flying fox (SFF) raises serious environmental concerns as to how we manage threatened species.

SFF are not only endangered, they are a keystone species with an essential pollination and seed-dispersal role for the

Wet Tropics World Heritage rainforest.

The attempted relocation will adversely affect the habitat of approximately 10-15 per cent of the entire national SFF population. It risks injury to the SFF and could potentially affect the survival of the species.

In addition, given that current evidence-based research shows that dispersal activities are ineffective and costly, and often result in relocation to other nearby sites, council is not following a policy of sound financial management.

It is also relevant to reflect on the manner in which council’s policy of more and more hotels (and fewer and fewer trees) has increased the need for a management (but not relocation) plan.

The proximity of native fauna to cities and towns is growing throughout Australia due to habitat reduction.

There is growing awareness of the need to adapt to this phenomena and to make it a win-win situation.

The council is ignoring the tourism value of this SFF camp. There has been an increase in both domestic and international tourists visiting the site to observe the animals and the evening fly-outs, which have become a feature of the Cairns skyscape.

A management plan which focuses on the value of the SFF to eco-tourism could well profit the council as well as the SFF. Keila Waksvik, Kuranda