Thousands of flying foxes starving as NSW spring flowers fail
Delayed spring flowering has triggered a mass starvation event affecting thousands of flying foxes across NSW.
The Hills Wildlife Sanctuary in Sydney is facing an urgent crisis. Thousands of malnourished flying foxes have been brought in over recent weeks.
Flying foxes need about 500g of nectar and pollen each night to stay healthy. Normally spring brings plenty of blossoms in gum trees, eucalyptus, bottle brush and paper bark.
This happens during the breeding season when mother bats need extra food for their pups. This year, native trees are flowering weeks late.
They are producing poor nectar yields. An unusually dry winter and spring left eastern NSW with only 50-100mm of rain.
This is about 100-200mm below the normal amount. It has disrupted flowering across the region.
Sanctuary director Ben Dessen says this crisis is unlike anything they have seen before. Charities are struggling to feed the affected bats using their own money.
- 500g per bat
- Daily nectar need
- 100-200mm below normal
- Rainfall deficit
- The Hills Wildlife Sanctuary, Sydney
- Location
- Ben Dessen
- Sanctuary director
Why it mattersFlying foxes are keystone species that pollinate Australia's native gum forests. Without them, the forests would collapse.
AustraliaThis starvation crisis is hitting NSW and eastern Australia now. Residents can help by hanging fruit kebabs in trees to feed local flying foxes while native flowers recover.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 1 h ago
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