Call to save bats with CCTV | Ipswich News | Local News in Ipswich

PROTECTION for endangered Ipswich bats could include closed circuit television (CCTV), suggests a bat carer.

Bat Care Brisbane spokeswoman Louise Saunders fears that flying foxes from the Woodend colony – some listed “vulnerable”– are being harvested for food.

She says a photographer filming for National Geographic at the bat colony recently heard shots and saw a “burly man” emerging from the trees where the bats were roosting.

“The photographer was a bit frightened himself,” Ms Saunders said.

“It wasn’t long after that, the photographer heard all these shots.”

Ms Saunders reported the incident to both Ipswich Police and the state Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM).

“I just wish they could put up security cameras,” she said.

“Shooting of flying foxes is cruel.

“The blacks and greys (flying foxes) have babies, and the greys are listed as vulnerable. Any sort of disturbance is detrimental to their health.

“They’re a protected species and people aren’t allowed to kill them.”

An Ipswich City Council spokesman said no one in the area had complained to council about hearing shots.

“It’s a legal thing, if someone is shooting down there – it’s nothing to do with us, it is a police or DERM matter,” he said.

“The park is crown land and council is joint trustee of the area with DERM, which is responsible for flying fox management.”

Sustainability Minister Kate Jones said DERM would immediately investigate claims of flying foxes being shot. “While there are provisions in the Nature Conservation Act for traditional owners with native title rights to the land to hunt flying foxes, this is only in accordance with traditions and culture,” she said.

“DERM investigations will involve looking at tangible options for protecting the bat colony, if it is assessed that further action is required.”

Ipswich Koala Protection Society secretary Helen Darbellay doubted that the community would want to pay for bat protection.