From July 1st, 2011 eligible farmers are able to access funding for total exclusion netting of their orchards to assist with protecting both the endangered grey-headed flying fox and the orchard crops.

In conjunction with the netting arrangements, licences to shoot flying-foxes will be phased out over the next three years across NSW, except in special circumstances. Full details and further information on the Flying-fox Netting Subsidy Program and the licence phase-out is available on the NSW Environment and Heritage website.

Flying fox numbers along the east coast of Australia have been declining rapidly.

Decades of Government policy has seen the clearance of the bats' historic habitat right along the coast, and that is why they are now looking for alternative habitat in urban areas.

Flying foxes show great respect for their elders and are the only species which don't reject sick or deformed young. Far from being aggressive, they are timid and very affectionate towards each other. The noise made by flying foxes early in the morning is the sound of mothers calling their young to tell them they are returning.

These animals are valuable to our eco-system. Flying foxes provide a service pollinating our forests. No government could afford to pay for this if the flying fox becomes extinct. The loss of hardwood forests would have serious implications to our economy and our environment.

This recent change in NSW government policy is a small step in the right direction to help protect a valuable and unique species.