General News
8 September, 2025
Council embraces bats
A NOT-for-profit conservation group has been granted up to $87,000 in funding and in-kind support by Cairns Regional Council to continue vital conservation, education and community engagement work supporting the region’s flying-fox population.
Under a new three-year agreement, the council will provide up to $60,000 in funding and $27,000 of in-kind support to the Bats and Trees Society of Cairns Inc (BatSoc).
This includes $15,000 for wildlife carers, up to $5000 for the popular Annual Bat Festival and $9000 of in-kind support for storage, signage and educational resources to strengthen BatSoc’s outreach.
The in-kind support will include access to a council storage facility at the Lake St car park, the installation of ‘baby bat’ signs at designated flying-fox roosts and council educational materials for the Bats and Trees Society of Cairns to use at community events.
A council spokesman said flying-foxes, particularly the endangered spectacled flying-fox, played a crucial role in pollination and maintaining the region’s biodiversity.
“In 2024/25, BatSoc delivered 31 educational activities, including 20 community public events and 11 presentations to schools, libraries, community groups and conferences,” he said.
(The) council remains committed to protecting the city’s flying-foxes and understands they are vital to our tropical ecosystems and this partnership will ensure they are better understood, cared for and protected for future generations.
“Since 2018, (the) council has provided more than $111,000 in assistance to BatSoc, helping strengthen awareness and community appreciation of these important native species.”
Cr Rob Pyne (Div. 5) told last week’s council meeting that the society did “a wonderful job”.
“They help bats, they educate and host the annual bat festival,” he said.
In the meantime, Cattana Wetlands volunteer and bat enthusiast Denis Moser has captured a photo of a tiny bat at the environmental park at Smithfield.
“The eastern tube-nosed bat (nyctimene Robinsoni) is a megabat found along the northeast coast of Australia and is the only species of tube-nosed bat in Australia,” he said.
“Herbert C. Robinson, after whom the bat is named, was a naturalist in Cooktown, Queensland.
“The bat normally hangs upside down as it roosts low in forested areas, 3m-4m above ground level and hangs like dead leaves in trees, being brilliantly camouflaged with its mottled wings.”
