Thousands of flying foxes fall from the sky near Sydney, Australia after record-breaking heatwave boil the bats alive

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A critical portion of Campbelltown’s flying fox colony died from the heat Sunday after a record-breaking heatwave swept across Western Sydney on Sunday. According to scientists, the head count of dead bats could reach their thousands, as surging temperatures left many dead on the ground and still suspended among the trees.

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Hundreds of dead bats on the ground near Sydney onn January 7, 2018.

Today was a dreadful and heartbreaking day for SW and Wollondilly WIRES carers/rescuers with temperatures soaring above 44 degrees the Campbelltown Flying Fox colony were hit hard with literally hundreds dead on the ground and still hanging in trees.

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Many of the dead bats are still hanging in the trees.

So many little lives lost due to the extreme heat and not enough canopy cover to shade them or keep them cool. Adults sought out shade and more shelter further up the creek resulting in many babies being left behind to deal with the heat. Many pups were on their last lot of breaths before getting much needed help by the WIRES members.

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The dead bats were just falling from the sky near Sydney, Australia on January 7, 2018.

As the dead bodies were recovered and placed in a pile for a head count the numbers had reached 200 not including the many hundreds that were still left in trees being unreachable, sadly a few adults were also included in the body count.

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Thousands of flying foxes killed by record-breaking heatwave near Sydney, Australia.

Rescuers/carers struggled with the heat also drenching themselves in water and drinking plenty but the heat did not stop them from continuing to save as many as possible and all working together as a team.

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The extreme temperatures boiled alive thousands of flying foxes near Sydney, Australia.

There were tears shed and hearts sunken, it’s devastating when a colony like that one goes down like this due to heat. This colony needs more canopy cover and shaded areas to help with our ever rising hot summers because this episode will surely not be the last.

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These flying foxes need more attention, otherwise the colony will be decimated during the next heatwaves.

All the photos featured in the article as well as more pictures can be found in this Facebook post by Help Save the Wildlife and Bushlands in Campbelltown:

Please spare a thought for the many bats who sadly didnt make it as well as the many mothers who returned calling for their babies who sadly were not calling back.

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  1. […] A critical portion of Campbelltown’s flying fox colony died from the heat Sunday after a record-breaking heatwave swept across Western Sydney on Sunday. According to scientists, the head count of dead bats could reach their thousands, as surging temperatures left many dead on the ground and still suspended among the trees. Read More… […]

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