Sydney Morning Herald
Gardening expert Peter Cundall refers to fruit bats as “flying gardeners performing a priceless environmental service”. Unfortunately, scores of fruit bats (flying foxes) are injured and killed in backyard fruit-tree netting each year.
The worst netting, and the bane of wildlife rescuers’ lives, is the cheap, imported, black monofilament variety. Because it is invisible at night, animals become hopelessly entangled in its sharp strands. Most die of shock and injuries or take months to rehabilitate.
For the sake of our flying gardeners – sugar gliders, birds and possums – please use only white “knitted” netting on backyard trees. Even better, be an urban conservationist and share your fruit with our unique wildlife.
Letter to the Editor from Lawrence Pope, Victorian Advocates For Animals, North Carlton (Vic)
