Little batty goes to school

A pint-sized flying fox affectionately named Mango was found roosting at a day care centre in Brisbane recently after she was sadly orphaned by her mother.

After being examined by trained veterinary staff at our RSPCA Wildlife Hospital, it was determined Mango the flying fox was a first-time flyer that had become tired and chose to roost on the playground fence at the centre.

Fortunately, there were no signs of injury and all Mango required was a feed and some fluids before she was okay to be moved to an experienced Bat Conservation & Rescue Qld carer named Anya. Anya said Mango was doing well and had joined a flight aviary with other flying foxes before they’re ready for release.

Within a few days of Mango being brought into RSPCA for treatment, another flying fox named Lochie was admitted into RSPCA care. Sweet Lochie required surgery on a wing injury and was placed with an experienced wildlife carer to begin his recovery.

The ecological role which flying foxes play is an important one, as they disperse the fruit and pollen of many native trees. Flying foxes can travel up to 100km in one night, unfortunately they are a threatened species and in decline in many areas because of long-term habitat destruction. We must learn to live alongside these precious pollinators and protect the habitats of flying foxes.

If you happen to come across a sick or injured bat, you can always do your bit to help them receive the treatment hey need… but please do not touch them. Call 1300 ANIMAL or contact your local bat rescue group. They will be able to notify someone who is vaccinated and trained to handle flying foxes.

There are simple steps you can take to keep our wildlife and any fruit trees on your property safe. Read the latest on choosing wildlife friendly tree netting by clicking here.

Once again, the advice here is do not touch any bat or flying fox if you find one you think is deceased. The most appropriate way to dispose of the body is by picking it up wearing pierce-proof gloves or using a plastic bag and towel or a spade and disposing of the body in a bin. Ensure that you are not making direct contact with the bat at any point.

We do not collect deceased bats or flying foxes, however, if an animal is sick or injured, please call 1300 ANIMAL hotline and we will help organise a bat rescuer to come out. Please remember before removing a dead bat that there may still be a baby bat tucked under its wing as young stay with their mum for a period of time. Do not handle the baby or mother bat, please call 1300 ANIMAL (264 625) for assistance.

Every year in Queensland our RSPCA teams work tirelessly to treat a whopping 24,871 native wildlife patients. For this work to continue, our capacity to care needs to improve dramatically.

That is why a new, purpose-built Wildlife Centre of Excellence will provide better opportunities to care appropriately for wildlife through enhanced resourcing, technology and investment in research and education. Your support helps ensure our wildlife still have a future in the wild.