General News
27 July, 2025
Bat roosts needed for bridge
A CONFERENCE involving more than 400 bat conservation scientists and researchers in Cairns early next month will put pressure on the Queensland Government to include roosting chambers in the new $490 million Barron River bridge at Kuranda.
Denis Moeser, who is a Cairns Regional Council Jabiru volunteer at Cattana Wetlands, is behind the proposal.
“I am calling on the state and federal governments to make very minor modifications to the new Barron River bridge being built at Kuranda to incorporate microbat-friendly structures,” he said.
“This would be the first time here in Australia that a bridge has been built to include roosting chambers for microbats as a valuable environmental resource.
“An example of this type of bridge is the Congress Avenue Bridge in Austin, Texas, USA.
“Merlin Tuttle, a US environmental scientist who is regarded worldwide as the ‘father’ of bat conservation, will be a guest speaker at the upcoming 20th International Bat Research Conference to be held in Cairns from August 3-8.
“Merlin was instrumental in saving 1.5 million Mexican free-tail bats roosting under the Austin bridge. Visitors from around the world come to Austin especially to view the microbat spectacle at the Austin Bridge, where millions of microbats can be seen close to sunset departing from under the bridge for their nightly feed.
“This is, not only boosting the local economy with millions of tourist dollars, but providing the local farming community with the added benefit of reduced insect pest destruction of their crops.
“This conference will bring together over 400 scientists and researchers from around the world who are involved in bat conservation and management.”
Mr Moeser said Mr Tuttle was arriving beforehand and wanted to visit microbat hot spots around the Cairns area and to do some photography.
He said he had arranged with Bats and Trees Society of Cairns president Maree Treadwell Kerr to show Mr Tuttle the key microbat locations around Cairns and regional areas.
“Merlin is willing to share some of his techniques in bat photography and his knowledge to like-minded photographers and interested parties during his stay.” Mr Moeser has installed wildlife nestboxes, including microbat roosting boxes, at the Cattana Wetlands.
