A small colony (100-5000) of Little Red Flying-foxes Pteropus scapulatusis usually resident at Mataranka Hot Springs in the semi-arid zone of the Northern Territory of Australia between October and February. In 1994-95 this changed markedly. More than 200 000 individuals were present and most did not depart until July. The colony generated a powerful smell and caused significant damage to the vegetation surrounding the Spring, resulting in conflict with tourist use of the area. Many methods were employed in attempts to shin animals, but none was successful. The situation is an extreme example of line problems caused by Australian Pteropus and highlights a general lack of informal on and effective management tecnniques for the genus and its habitats. Information on the sex ration and breeding condition of females at the colony is presented.
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March 17 2014
Flying-foxes and tourists: a conservation dilemma in the Northern Territory Open Access
Michael Vardon;
Michael Vardon
1
Wildlife Management International Pty Limited, P.O. Box 530, Karama, Northern Territory 0812
2
School of Resource Management and Environmental Science, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 0200
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Boyd Simpson;
Boyd Simpson
1
Wildlife Management International Pty Limited, P.O. Box 530, Karama, Northern Territory 0812
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David Sherwell;
David Sherwell
3
Parks and Wildlife Commission of the Northern Territory, Mataranka, Northern Territory 0852
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Christopher Tidemann
Christopher Tidemann
2
School of Resource Management and Environmental Science, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 0200
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Australian Zoologist (1997) 30 (3): 310–315.
Citation
Michael Vardon, Boyd Simpson, David Sherwell, Christopher Tidemann; Flying-foxes and tourists: a conservation dilemma in the Northern Territory. Australian Zoologist 1 March 1997; 30 (3): 310–315. doi: https://doi.org/10.7882/AZ.1997.006
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