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Wildlife healers have set up an improvised triage to heal dozens of "potentially dangerous" bats that have fallen from trees in the middle of a sweltering, tropical heat wave.
The hospital was installed this week in Murray Street Park in Manoora, Cairns, in the far north of Queensland, after the deaths of nearly 200 flying foxes.
Amanda Milligan and Jessie Smart, wildlife protection officers at the FNQ, organized this makeshift triage to provide first aid to heat-affected bats and clean up the dead.
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Wildlife healers have set up an improvised triage to heal dozens of "potentially dangerous" bats that have fallen from trees in the middle of a tropical heatwave
Milligan, who has lived in the area for more than two decades, told Cairns Post that she has never seen so many bats affected by rising temperatures.
"As soon as it reached 40 ° C, bats fell from the trees," Ms. Milligan said.
"Here (in Murray St), we had 140 deaths Monday and we still have 40 today."
Bats were reported to be found in colonies found in Cairns, Edmonton, Gordonvale and Townsville.
In a video posted on NQ Wildlife Care's Facebook page, shocking images show the alarming number of bats that have already succumbed to heat.
Dead flying foxes are seen motionless lined up along the grbady path and around several trees in the park.
One of the wildlife guards said in the video that many puppies have become orphans as a result of their mother's death as a result of extreme heat conditions.
The two caregivers, who seek the help of other wildlife volunteers, sprayed water on fallen bats and administered glucose injections.
The hospital was installed this week at Murray Street Park in Manoora, North Queensland, Cairns, after the death of a considerable number of flying foxes.
Ms. Milligan said they would greatly appreciate any help provided by this makeshift hospital, either to cure sick bats or to help clean up and count the number of deaths.
Health officials have asked residents not to approach sick or injured bats and to contact professionals after several people have been bitten or scratched.
Dr. Richard Gair, director of Tropical Public Health Services in Cairns, said the majority of injuries occurred at the bat colony in the Cairns City Library.
Dr. Gair said that bats stole and wounded people, rather than biting people who were trying to retrieve them.
Amanda Milligan and Jessie Smart, FNQ wildlife protection officers, organized an improvised triage to provide first aid to heat-affected bats and clean up the dead
The health professional said the bats could also be infected with the potentially dangerous Australian bat lyssavirus (ABLV).
"ABLV is an infection such as rabies, which can be transmitted by a bite or scratch of bats, or possibly by exposure of the eyes, nose or mouth to saliva," said the Dr. Gair.
In the NQ Wildlife Care video, the caregiver urged anyone who finds a sick or injured flying fox to come into contact with the organization so that it can be properly rehabilitated.
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