Aussie Wildlife Recovery & Emergency Preparedness

From mid-December 2024 our WIRES Wildlife Veterinarian Dr Tania Bishop, began providing urgent online consultations for wildlife carers in Queensland and northern New South Wales as they dealt with yet another heartbreaking paralysis syndrome for Flying Foxes.   

Dr Bishop said thousands of Flying Foxes have so far been affected, with mothers and pups particularly susceptible. She believes the paralysis is caused by a fungal toxin in their fruit, likely brought on through high temperatures, humidity, and heavy rains. 

The only hope in this distressing situation is that when rescued in time, many Flying Foxes are responding to treatment.Thanks to your support, wildlife carers are being equipped with hydrating fluids, specialist formulasand eye lubricants (the paralysis affects their ability to blink) so suffering Flying Foxes can slowly recover their strength.  

Even once the paralysis subsides, it can take weeks of specialist care to get patients back into the wild, including providing flight practice in large aviaries so  they can regain their fitness.   

Carers are also striving to keep mothers and pups  together – whilst pregnant females are being held in small hammocks, enabling them to safely rest until  the paralysis subsides. Thank you for helping us provide this life-saving emergency response. Flying Foxes are one of Australia’s most important pollinators – so you are not only making a world of difference to them – you’re helping  regenerate our native bushlands – a vital safeguard for every Australian species!