Habitat. The Cairns Flying Fox Advisory Committee was informed in 2019 by an eminent flying-fox expert that the Spectacled Flying Fox (SFF) population in Australia had decreased by 80 to 85% meaning it would likely meet the criteria for Critically Endangered status. Modelling identified that the species was likely to be extinct in less than 100 years due to the high levels of death associated with human interactions. In Australia, it’s found in north-east Queensland and on the Torres Strait Islands, as well as in Papua New Guinea, parts of Indonesia and the Solomon Islands. The Spectacled Flying-Fox (Pteropus conspicillatus) was first scientifically described in 1850 by John Gould and, when listed earlier this year, joined another 37 mammals added to the Australian national endangered list. A wild and endangered Spectacled Flying Fox among some passionfruit vines at a wildlife hospital in Kuranda, Queensland. Noel Preece, Penny van Oosterzee, Maree Kerr, Evan Quartermain, and Justin Welbergen published a Conversation piece about the long series of controversial management actions that culminated in the decision to disperse the bats from the Cairns City Library site. The Spectacled Flying-fox was listed as a threatened species under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act of 1999. Spectacled Flying Foxes outside of the Cairns Public Library. Current news, information and issues related to the environment. Official recognition that the spectacled flying fox is now an endangered species was bittersweet for those who lobbied for its change in status. Spectacled Flying-foxes will skim over the surface of water to drink and are sometimes eaten by crocodiles. Popular with tourists, flying foxes are a source of tension among locals. Endangered spectacled flying-foxes are set to be dispersed from their camp in Cairns CBD, one of the last strongholds of the species. flying fox is endangered becuase of pochers. I mentioned that the Spectacled Flying Fox is a megabat and for good reason since their capable of growing to a length of 25 cm (9.8″). Spectacled Flying-foxes roost high on the branches of trees. Australia’s vastly diminished Spectacled flying fox population faces a new threat to its survival following a recent federal decision granting the relocation of a significant roosting colony of spectacled flying foxes in Cairns. But when the spectacled flying-fox was finally declared endangered in February 2019, they already qualified as critically endangered, according to official guidelines. On some islands, bat species are protected by law. The Spectacled flying foxes (Range – Nth QLD) and Grey-headed flying foxes (range: east coast from northern NSW to Geelong) are the most endangered with declines of more than ninety-five percent in the past century. But the number of casualties becomes even more significant when dealing with already endangered species. The flying fox lives in Australia. Four species of flying fox, otherwise known as fruit-bat, are already native to Australia. Almost half the species of this type of fruit bat are now threatened with extinction. These include the Little Red Flying-Fox; Black Flying-Fox; Grey-headed Flying-Fox and Spectacled Flying-Fox. Credit: Stefan Kellner. Spectacled flying foxes normally display monogamous mating system, where each individual has only one mate per season. In February, federal Environment Minister Melissa Price upgraded the spectacled flying fox from vulnerable to endangered on the national threatened species list. Hardy calls for reducing the flying fox population to about 13,000 individuals—the number he estimates lived on the island in the 1970s. The major reason is that during a heat wave in early 2019, 23,000 flying … The camp is one of the last major strongholds of the species, harbouring, on average, 12% of Australia’s remaining spectacled flying-foxes. Let’s learn a little more about this megabat, shall we? Camps are often found in patches of rainforest and swamps as well as mangroves. They are considered vulnerable due to a significant decline in numbers as a result of loss of their prime feeding habitat and secluded camp sites. Endangered spectacled flying-foxes are set to be dispersed from their camp in Cairns CBD, one of the last strongholds of the species. The Spectacled flying-fox A community perspective Maree Treadwell Kerr BatSoc Inc CRC Flying-fox Advisory Committee Australasian Bat Society Wildlife Tourism Australia Griffith University. Both species are protected under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and high levels of state protection. This listing was transferred to the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 when it came into force on 25 August 2017. Flying Fox native to Fiji. The flying fox lives in Australia. However, when a female doesn't yield offspring, her mate will leave to breed with other females, thus exhibiting polygynous breeding. The mating season lasts from March to May. Spectacled flying-fox. The grey-headed flying-fox was listed as Vulnerable to extinction under the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 in 2001. An extreme heatwave in far north Queensland last month is estimated to have killed a third of spectacled flying foxes, sparking calls to class the species as 'critically endangered'. There are several reasons for this. Justin Welbergen Why dispersals don’t work. Yes, a bat that is almost a foot long! The spectacled flying-fox camp in Cairns has a tumultuous history, being subject to creeping destruction and the impacts of construction projects for years. Dr Martin Cohen, wildlife biologist and Chair of the Cairns Flying Fox Advisory Committee slams Cairns Regional Council's plans to disperse Endangered Spectacled Flying … Counts of Spectacled Flying-fox conducted between 1998 and 2000 indicated the Spectacled Flying-fox population declined from 153,000 in 1998 to about 80,000 in 1999 and 2000. Flying foxes are in deep trouble. Spectacled Flying-foxes. IMAGE: Justin Welbergen Why dispersals don’t work. 701k members in the environment community. Why are spectacled flying foxes endangered? The spectacled flying-fox has required a lot of detailed modelling. We, the signatories of this petition, request Cairns Regional Council to cancel all plans to ‘disperse’ (forcibly evict) critically endangered Spectacled Flying Foxes from the nationally significant Cairns City Library camp as it will place great stress on this species leading to higher mortality rates. The listing was primarily based on the national population decline of around 30 percent. There are 44 known roost sites (or camps) across the Cairns local government area, of which six are listed as Nationally Important Camps. Of the 65 species of Flying Foxes worldwide, almost half are at risk of extinction. But when the spectacled flying-fox was finally declared endangered in February 2019, they already qualified as critically endangered, according to official guidelines . It is the largest specie of flying fox that lives there and it is also the only endangered specie of flying fox. They roost together in groups often made up of tens of thousands of bats, called camps. On many islands, Flying Foxes are targeted for hunting because they eat fruit from farms. It is the largest specie of flying fox that lives there and it is also the only endangered specie of flying fox. On Saturday, Cairns Regional Council will disperse up to 8,000 endangered spectacled flying-foxes from their nationally important camp in central Cairns. Most of these are Spectacled Flying-foxes (SFFs) but at certain times of the year, small numbers of Little Red Flying-foxes can also be found. The council is permitted to disperse the flying-foxes with deterrent measures, including pyrotechnics, intense lighting, acoustic devices and other non-lethal means. - Buy this stock photo and explore similar images at Adobe Stock Cairns dispersal of endangered spectacled flying-foxes from CBD nationally important flying-fox camp. Cairns is home to a large number of flying-foxes. 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