Fruit growers in the Granite Belt area of Queensland, Australia have demanded compensation for A$4m worth of produce that they say has been eaten by flying foxes.
Farmers are calling on the state government to provide funds following a ban on permits to cull the animals – a move that growers say has led to an increase in fruit damage, ABC Rural reported.
The ban was put into place following a report that said shooting the animals was inhumane.
'There's a significant economic impact for growers with loss of income, for many growers this is their only income of the year,' said Ian Mungall, spokesman for the growers. 'With tree fruits, it's not as though you can go out and just remove the tree fruit and plant another crop.
'This is their only income, and they are going to be affected for the following 12 months,' he added.
The Queensland government has so far declined to comment on the matter, ABC Rural said.
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