Flying foxes, a type of large bat, are under fire in Australia… literally. The government in Queensland is giving people permission to continue shooting and killing flying foxes. These animals have just as much right to live as any of us – this is their habitat, and they shouldn’t be punished for that! Sign the […]
Tag: flying foxes
Australia’s flying foxes offer valuable services & deserve better reputation: Study
Each night, a dark cloud of flying foxes, or fruit bats, moves through the skies of eastern Australia on their way to gorge on nectar and fruits. With a meter-wide (3.2-foot) wingspan, they transport large quantities of pollen and rain down seeds in their poop, helping establish new trees. A new study in Scientific Reports provides the first economic […]
Watch heart-stopping footage of desperate flying foxes dodging deadly, monstrous crocodiles to collect water from a predator-infested river
In the blazing-hot Northern Territory in Australia, little red flying foxes try to stay cool. As temperatures soar to 38°C, they begin to produce more heat than they can release. At 40°C they will die, unless they find a way to cool down. What they need is water. By skimming the river’s surface they can […]
32 staggering crocodile facts: Amazing truths about one of the deadliest – and oldest – predators on the planet, including their rather tender mating strategy…
From razor-sharp senses to fierce maternal instincts and unexpected ties to birds, these reptiles are remarkable. Dive in to discover the most incredible secrets of one of the world’s largest and fiercest predators, the crocodile. 32 amazing crocodile facts 1. The saltwater crocodile is the largest reptile on the planet. Closely followed by the Nile […]
Animals Are Falling From Trees As Extreme Heat Pushes Species To The Brink
According to The Guardian’s Gloria Dickie, the deadly impacts of extreme heat on animals are no longer rare events—they’re becoming terrifyingly common. Last year in Mexico’s Tabasco state, residents witnessed howler monkeys dropping from trees as temperatures hit 110°F (43°C). At least 83 were confirmed dead, with hundreds more likely perished from dehydration and heat […]
A man has died after contracting the first NSW case of Australian bat lyssavirus. Here’s everything you need to know about the deadly infection
A man from northern New South Wales has died after contracting the state’s first recorded case of Australian bat lyssavirus, a close relative of the rabies virus. The man, in his 50s, was bitten by a bat “several” months ago and received treatment at the time, NSW Health said. On Thursday, the department confirmed the […]
Mystery syndrome killing rainbow lorikeets and flying foxes leaves scientists baffled
Thousands of rainbow lorikeets and hundreds of flying foxes have been hospitalised in Queensland in the past year with a mysterious paralysis that can affect the animals’ ability to fly, swallow and even breathe. Lorikeet paralysis syndrome has struck birds in Queensland and New South Wales since at least 2012, and a similar syndrome was […]
Australia’s flying foxes are ‘curious, gentle and intelligent’ – and often misunderstood
One of the most spectacular sights at Adelaide’s Womadelaide music festival is not on the official lineup. As dusk approaches, thousands of grey-headed flying foxes begin chattering and stretching their wings as they prepare to ascend from their roosts in Botanic Park and set out in search of food. “It’s an amazing sight,” says associate […]