Monday, August 24, 2009

Hendra Virus and Flying Foxes.

An outbreak of Hendra virus at a horse stud in Central Queensland has opened up an opportunity for more strident calls for the killing of flying foxes in the Ross Creek and Cawarral areas.

The flying fox colony at Yeppoon in Ross Creek has had much controversy over the years. In the 1930's, the local Council organised a yearly "posse" of residents armed with shotguns to get rid of them, and some residents still stay the "posse" should come back.

It's sometimes hard to understand why some people hate animals so much, with all the information that is availabe for people to educate themselves about wildlife, and how important it is for our own survival. Much of the Central Queensland coastal tropical vine scrub that provided food for the flying foxes has gone under for houses and development, so now they have to forage wherever they can. *WPAA