Where to next for managing contentious flying-fox roosts? Research questions that could contribute to a new future for an ongoing human-wildlife issue

Flying-fox roosts near human settlements remain an ongoing and complex management issue. A spectrum of management options exists, ranging from less intense forms of intervention such as community engagement and routine site maintenance activities to more intensive interventions such as creating buffers and colony dispersals. However, there are several limitations to effectiveness, which render community tensions in many scenarios ongoing even after land managers have applied all levels of conceivable management actions, including attempting to relocate the animals. Such dilemmas highlight the need for bolstering the effectiveness of current management options or exploration of new approaches. To this end, this paper canvasses research questions in respect to each level of management intervention. The knowledge gaps we highlight require attention from a wide range of scientific disciplines including animal behavioural ecology, plant biology, soil science, social science and materials science.