We have just found out that Cairns Regional Council (Far North Queensland, Australia) is not happy just to forcibly evict ('disperse') the critically endangered keystone Spectacled Flying Foxes (SFFs) from their camp at Cairns City Library...
They are now planning to cut down the giant fig tree known as the nursery tree where SFFs give birth to and raise their young.
This is diabolical! They will try to argue that the tree is sick but this is a complete lie. See the photo of the nursery fig tree attached.
Please send emails to Cairns Regional Council at feedback@cairns.qld.gov.au
Also Cc: a copy of your email to Cairns Regional Council to us at XRCairns@protonmail.com so Council knows we know that many people are writing to them from all over the world!
Please also join our group at www.facebook.com/groups/Cairns-coev where we have lists of simple things people can do, and lots of photos and information.
On our Facebook group page you can also ask any questions you like about this amazing species which is the closest relative to humans in Australia. Though not a primate, the SFF is closely related to the Madagascan lemur which is a primate, and we have no other primates in Australia.
Don't let Cairns Regional Council cut down the nursery tree of the Spectacled Flying Fox at this nationally significant camp!
Don't let Cairns Regional Council forcibly evict the Spectacled Flying Foxes from their home when they are not doing anyone any harm, and which will likely lead to higher levels of abortions and other deaths, injuries, stress, panic, confusion, and fragmentation of the colony..
Eviction is planned for 01 July 2020 when SFF mums are already 3 months pregnant. (SFFs have a six month gestation). It would continue every day for a month when mums are entering their third bimester of pregnancy.
A Syrian billionaire developer Ghassan Aboud has two hotels recently completed in the area and he wants the SFFs gone. He knows nothing about SFFs - how they are a keystone species, the only long-range seed disperser for our World Heritage Wet Tropics rainforests.
We must not allow money, profit and self-interest to take priority over protecting a critically endangered keystone species.
People power will match misguided money power of billionaires!
People power will prevail and protect our keystone critically endangered Spectacled Flying Foxes!
Please continue to Share our Petition, and donate to Change.org if you can as this greatly increases the reach and number of signatures.
Thank you for your ongoing support _/|\_