Review of dispersal attempts at flying-fox camps in Australia
Billie J. Roberts
A E , Matthew Mo B , Mike Roache A and Peggy Eby C D
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Department of Planning, Industry and Environment, Conservation Policy and Strategy, 4 Parramatta Square, 12 Darcy Street, Parramatta, NSW 2124, Australia.
B Department of Planning, Industry and Environment, Saving our Species Program, Biodiversity, Conservation and Science, 4 Parramatta Square, 12 Darcy Street, Parramatta, NSW 2124, Australia.
C School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
D Centre for Planetary Health and Food Security, Griffith University, Nathan, Qld 4111, Australia.
E Corresponding author. Email: billie.roberts@environment.nsw.gov.au
Australian Journal of Zoology - https://doi.org/10.1071/ZO20043
Submitted: 5 June 2020 Accepted: 23 July 2021 Published online: 1 September 2021
Abstract
The permanent exclusion of flying-foxes from camps (camp dispersal) near human settlements is a management tool commonly used to mitigate human–wildlife conflict. We summarised information on the costs and outcomes of 48 camp dispersals in Australia. Our aim was to improve the information base on which camp management decisions are made. Camp dispersals were largely triggered by impacts on neighbouring residents (75%). A disproportionately high number occurred in 2013–14, associated with changes in Queensland flying-fox management policy following an increase in the number of urban camps. Repeat actions over months or years were typically required to exclude flying-foxes from camps (58%). In 88% of cases, replacement camps formed within 1 km and became sites of transferred conflict. Only 23% of dispersal attempts were successful in resolving conflict for communities, generally after extensive destruction of roost habitat. Costs were poorly documented, although no dispersal attempt costing less than AU$250 000 proved successful. We conclude that camp dispersal is a high-risk, high-cost tool for mitigating human–wildlife conflict, in situ management strategies and tools should be developed, evidence-based information on management options should be made available to stakeholders via a nationally curated resource library, and research is required on impacts of camp management practices on flying-foxes.
Keywords: camp dispersal, flying-fox, fruit bat, human–wildlife conflict, Pteropus, relocation, wildlife management.
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