Flying Fox relocations to recommence

Townsville City Council will this week re-start the relocation of Flying Foxes from the main areas of Dan Gleeson Memorial Gardens back into the rear corner of the park as part of its ongoing management plan.

Mayor Jenny Hill said the practice was seasonal as Council did not take action during breeding season in line with environmental regulations.

“Townsville City Council actively manages flying fox movements in its parks, undertaking weekly monitoring and population counts,” Cr Hill said.

“We use smoke, noise and water to keep the flying foxes contained to one section of the Dan Gleeson Memorial Gardens, allowing highly-valued areas of the park to remain open to the public and to minimise any risk to public safety.

“Council’s monitoring of the flying fox population has identified that the relocation activities can re-start from tomorrow <Monday, February 14>.”

Cr Hill said relocation activities would be undertaken from 5-8am, 7-days a week for the next three weeks. Quieter activities will be undertaken before 6am.

“Flying foxes have been in Australia for millions of years and are protected under the Nature Conservation Act 1992," she said.

“They play an important role in the ecosystem and are responsible for long-range seed dispersal and the pollination of flowering plants.

“However, Council acknowledges that they also cause disruption to residents with noise and odour pollution as well as extreme damage to some of our beautiful botanic gardens

“Council officers continue to work closely with NQ Wildlife, the Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland and Stone Deaf Wildlife to manage flying foxes to ensure we get the balance right.”

There are three types of flying foxes within the Townsville area – the spectacled flying fox (Pteropus conspicillatus), black flying fox (Pteropus alecto) and Little red flying fox (Pteropus scapulatus).