A small percen-tage of juveniles are blond, but darken with maturity. Much of the reason for this decline stems from a traditional hatred of flying foxes, particularly by fruit farmers who often go to great lengths to persecute these animals. In the Cairns district alone at least 6 major flying fox camps have been obliterated by burning, gassing and explosives over the past 30 years. Flying fox camps near Ingham and Innisfail have been similarly treated. Queensland farmers are able to obtain a Damage Mitigation Permit from Queensland National Parks, but rarely if ever abide by the conditions, and are never prosecuted for breaching them.
Bats touching the wires are supposedly instantly and literally fried.
It is estimated that several thousand animals were killed, and according to observers in the orchards at night, it certainly wasn't an instantaneous death - more like a drawn out one, with many bats escaping, though badly burned, presumably only to die later. A court case, the first to apply the newly introduced Federal Government's Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, is being mounted to gain a stay of execution for the flying foxes. Dr Carol Booth of Townsville with the legal support of the Environmental Defender's Office. The Austrop Foundation is helping to defray court costs. Carol has visited the orchard, and has filmed the flying foxes being killed and injured by the Fyre Fox system.