Hundreds of grey-headed flying foxes born early as starving colonies struggle
Wildlife rescue groups have taken more than 460 reports of malnourished flying foxes across NSW since late September.
What the source says
- Hundreds of grey-headed flying foxes have given birth prematurely across NSW, in what carers suspect is a mass starvation event before the October birthing season.
- Since late September, wildlife rescue groups have received more than 460 reports of malnourished flying foxes, and the trend has been recorded as far north as Kempsey.
- Volunteer group FAWNA estimates about 95 per cent of prematurely born pups will die in care; some pups weigh as little as 38 to 40 grams, when a newborn should weigh about 80 to 90 grams.
- Central Coast ecologist and carer Kerryn Parry-Jones said: "I've never seen large numbers of premature babies coming in like this."
- FAWNA NSW president Meredith Ryan said: "We've never had this massive amount of pup mortality."
- The Australian Registry of Wildlife Health found Illawarra cadavers were "severely emaciated", and the federal environment department says the cause is still unconfirmed, possibly temporary food shortages.
Source: ABC News, 2026-10-10
Why it matters here
The premature births have been recorded as far north as Kempsey, so Mid North Coast colonies and carers are inside the affected area.
Oh love, a flying fox is a gardener too, carrying pollen and seed from one patch of bush to the next, and a starving mum can't carry a baby to term. Feed the soil, not the plant, and in the same way a colony needs flowering trees across the whole landscape, not just the odd street tree. If you find a grounded bat, don't touch it, ring a trained carer. So here's my question: who's planting the winter and spring flowering gums these mums need, before next year's babies are due?
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