Heroes in the Night featured in Melbourne City Journal

Straight out of Melbourne, Australia is the below article (not available online) on RLSHs. Journalist Yolanda Redrup interviewed me for the article via phone and quotes me on RLSH relations and the infamous "pepper spray incident" I witnessed while patrolling with Phoenix Jones. It was a wild night, especially when, as Yolanda puts it, I "copped a punch in a massive brawl."  The article focuses quite a bit on the Fauna Fighters, a Melbourne duo that are animal rights activists that use the superhero motif to promote their cause, gathering petition signatures, litter pick up, and patrols. Thylacine and Flying Fox have had a controversial reception among the RLSH for showing support for the radical animal rights group the Animal Liberation Front.

Thank you to Yolanda and The City Journal and G'day to any new readers that followed the article to this blog.

HERO PROFILE #81-82: The Thylacine and Flying Fox

Operates out of: Melbourne, Australia

Team affiliation: The Fauna Fighters

Activities: Animal rights activism

Quote: "We're just everyday people, no better than anyone else, with a love of animals, the environment, a desire to better our community and a flair for the theatrical."

Website: www.faunafighters.com.au

Author's notes: The Fauna Fighters caught my eye because of their wonderfully unique and Australian personas. The Thylacine, also known as the Tasmanian tiger (actually a marsupial), was declared extinct in the 1930s. Many sightings, however, add to the legend that the species still exists in small numbers deep in the forests of Tasmania. The flying fox family, the genus pteropus, consists of the largest bats in the world. Several flying fox species that call Australia home are on the endangered species list.

The Fauna Fighters do not call themselves "Real Life Super Heroes" but say that the concept was an inspiration to them. They have called themselves "eco-vigilantes," "costumed activists" and "Watchmen of the Animal Kingdom." Their goal is to help find lost pets, collect supplies for animal shelters, raise awareness of animal habitats and "fighting the disgraceful practice of puppy farming and animal testing."

For example, in the video posted below, the duo speaks out against impulse buying of pets over the holidays.