A very similar situation is also happening in NSW. There is a proposal
before the Scientific Committee to have GHFF listed as Vunerable
(asindicated by Peter Menkhorst). I think this is the second time the
species has been considered by the panel, and is currently at the public
consultation stage. One of the big problems here is pressure from farming
goups because of the damage to fruit crops, particularly stone fruits, and I
believe licences may still be issued to shoot them (not certain on this
one). Anyway, I believe this would be considered by many as a controversial
decision if it does get listed.
The large colony in the Royal Botanic Gardens (which fed Powerful Owl last
year for a while) is in a similar situation to the one in Melbourne I think
with some plans on moving them. Is this the case Alan Leishman?
Cheers,
Peter
From:
To:
Subject: Re: [BIRDING-AUS] bats - the answers
Date: Fri, 16 Mar 2001 16:59:48 +1100
Dear all
Special thanks to Peter Woodall for providing Les Hall's
comments and to Andrew Taylor and Peter Menkhorst for their
contributions. Many do not realise that Grey-headed Flying Foxes
are indigenous to the Melbourne area and it is important to hear
that they are from someone as authoritative as Peter.
The topic is relevant to birds because of the concerns about the
processes for listing endangered species and communities.
Yesterday during the lunch break (of the Test Match!) ABC
Melbourne radio had an interview with the chair of the
Scientific Advisory Committee which recommended listing
(Virginia Studdert?). It seems the panel was split and the
recommendation was therefore made on the basis that the status
of the animal was "insufficiently known".
The Victorian Minister was reported to have taken the line,
whilst rejecting the advice, that a national approach to
managing flying foxes is needed. Various animal welfare groups
are pursuing that possibility whilst planning to disrupt the
gassing of the bats.
I hope they will also enquire about the possibility of judicial
review, a method of protecting the community from the
unjustified use of discretion by ministers and officials. The
Minister's decision could be an unfortunate precedent for not
listing other species where the status is insufficiently known.
Michael Norris
Birding-Aus is on the Web at
www.shc.melb.catholic.edu.au/home/birding/index.html
To unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message
"unsubscribe birding-aus" (no quotes, no Subject line)
to
_________________________________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com.
Birding-Aus is on the Web at
www.shc.melb.catholic.edu.au/home/birding/index.html
To unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message
"unsubscribe birding-aus" (no quotes, no Subject line)
to
|
