Is this the future effect of Global Warming?

200 flying foxes die in heatwave

MORE than 200 flying foxes from a Campbelltown colony were found dead on the ground or still hanging in trees during the extreme heat which hit the region on Sunday.

 From article, (MORE than 200 flying foxes from a Campbelltown colony were found dead on the ground or still hanging in trees during the extreme heat which hit the region on Sunday.

St Helens Park WIRES volunteer Cate Ryan was the first person on the scene at 1pm and she raised the alarm by contacting her fellow WIRES volunteers from across south western Sydney and Wollondilly to help bring water to save as many bats as possible.

“It was unbelievable. I saw a lot of dead bats on the ground and others were close to the ground and dying,’’ she said.

“I have never seen anything like it before.’’

The flying fox colony, which is located near Farrow Rd, was hit hard by Sunday’s extreme heat with the temperature hitting 45.1C in Campbelltown.

Dramatic photos of the bats have been posted on the Help Save the Wildlife and Bushlands in Campbelltown and the WIRES Facebook pages and the situation has been published and shared around the world.

“90 per cent of the flying foxes (which died) were babies or juveniles,’’ Ms Ryan said.

“We hydrated about 80 flying foxes.’’

Ms Ryan said flying fox colonies in Parramatta and Penrith were also affected by Sunday’s heat stress situation.

She is currently caring for 10 flying foxes before they are returned to the colony when their health improves.)