[ad_1]
Extreme weather has had a negative impact on flying foxes in the far north, which are down to a dozen trees, creating a potential risk to public health.
Wildlife caregivers claim to be battling the considerable number of thermal stress bats in the Cairns, Edmonton, Gordonvale and Townsville colonies.
At Murray St Park in Manoora, Amanda Milligan and Jessie Smart of FNQ Wildlife Carers set up a "triage" system, which involves administering glucose injections and watering injured flying foxes.
Ms. Milligan, who has been living in Cairns for over two decades, said she has never seen so many bats affected by heat.
"As soon as the temperature reached 40 ° C, bats fell from the trees," she said.
"Here (at Murray St), we had 140 deaths Monday and we have 40 more today."
She said they were desperate for other people who take care of the wildlife and volunteers to help treat bats or clean and count the number of deaths.
The hospital and the Cairns and Hinterland Health Department issued a public health warning in which they were urged not to approach sick or injured flying foxes.
Since Monday, seven people have been bitten or scratched by bats in the region.
Dr. Richard Gair, director of Tropical Public Health Services in Cairns, said that a majority of these cases had occurred in the bat colony of the Cairns City Library.
"We understand that in the last 24 hours, it's actually bats that have accidentally infiltrated people, rather than people trying to catch them," he said.
He added that some bats could be infected with potentially fatal Australian lyssavirus (ABLV).
"ABLV is an infection such as rabies, which can be transmitted by a bat bite or a scratch, or
perhaps by exposure of the eyes, nose or mouth to saliva, "he said.
Originally published under the title Extreme heat taking bats
Source link
