The relocation of flying fox colonies in Queensland

Abstract

This article examines the practice of relocating flying foxes in Queensland under damage mitigation permits issued in accordance with the Nature Conservation Act 1992 (Qld). The author argues that relocation exercises are unjustified as they are mostly ineffective in achieving permanent movement of colonies. Instead such exercises result in stress and harm to the flying foxes and potentially interfere with their ecological roles. Flying fox relocations as they are commonly conducted in Queensland are inconsistent with ecological sustainability principles and appear to be driven by political decisions and media hype rather than by sound wildlife conservation principles.