Mr Moors introduced the meeting by flatly stating that we were only to discuss strategies that would result in the complete elimination of flying-foxes from any part of the Gardens. This is difficult task. Actually the entire problem at Fern Gully appears to have been managed in a peculiar manner. The Garden's people appear to be so fixated on the damage to the vegetation that they have failed to cope with it in a sensible manner. Then we were shown a list of the techniques that the Gardens have used to discourage the bats.
None appears to have been set up scientifically and none appears to have been monitored correctly.
There appears to be have been very little effort placed on trying to manage the level of damage at Fern Gully. During the trials when mono-filament line was placed around the colony it was noticed that bats roosted on it rather than trees. There has been no attempt to try to reduce the pressure on damaged trees by designing alternatives for roosting bats. Dead trees have not been removed and replaced by similar specimens. Seed or cuttings have not been collected and grown for future replanting programmes.