Dear Friends

The long campaign to ban the shooting of flying foxes in NSW is at a critical juncture and a decision will be made by the NSW govt over the next few months.

The bat-issue is hotting up since the big wet has pushed flying foxes all over the country.

Reports of shooting are increasing. Now as much as ever we need a ban on shooting and exclusion netting subsidies for fruit growers. The NSW Farmers Federation and the Fruit Growers Association is supportive of a ban if it is accompanied by appropriate compensation i.e. netting and perhaps an interim measure to assist growers unable to net or unable to net prior to a ban.

Please print out the letter below and sign and send.

The Minister needs to get as many as possible.

Many thanks!

NSW Minister for Climate Change and the Environment
The Hon. Frank Sartor MP
Level 35, Governor Macquarie Tower
1 Farrer Place
Sydney NSW 2000

March 2010

Re. Shooting Flying-foxes

Dear Minister,

I applaud the progress made toward ending the licensing of fruit growers to
kill flying foxes in orchards.
The NSW Flying fox Licensing Review Panel concluded last year that the
practice must cease and instead fruit growers be assisted to financially to
install full exclusion netting over their crops.

I urge you to end the shooting of flying foxes before the next fruit
growing season on the grounds that it is inhumane and that it impacts on
native species that perform a vital pollination and seed dispersal role in
the forests and woodlands.

The interim measure of a Code of Practice for shooting flying foxes cannot
make shooting humane. When a female is shot, her single young of the year
with either die with her if it is being carried or dehydrate and starve
slowly in the camp where she has left it for the night because it cannot
fly. The fruit ripening season overlaps with the breeding season of two out
of three flying fox species in NSW.

I recognise that shooting would continue unless the fruit growing industry
is assisted to protect their crops effectively. Previously, industry
adjustment packages have led to a better deal for the environment and
businesses.

I support protection of fruit crops and flying foxes. I look forward to a
commitment from the NSW Government in the very near future.

Yours sincerely

Name

Address

CC  NSW Minister for Industry and Investment
The Hon. Steve Whan MP
Level 33 Governor Macqurie Tower
1 Farrer Place
Sydney NSW 2000