Post-release survivorship of 18 years in a hand-reared grey-headed flying-fox (Pteropus poliocephalus) revealed by a metal identification band
Matthew Mo
A * , Stephen Cross B and Keely Boyd C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Department of Planning and Environment, Biodiversity, Conservation and Science Directorate, Saving our Species program, 4 Parramatta Square, 12 Darcy Street, Parramatta, NSW 2150, Australia.
B Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service, Mid North Coast Branch, Coffs Harbour, NSW 2450, Australia.
C Hunter Wildlife Rescue (Native Animal Trust Fund), Shortland, NSW 2307, Australia.
Australian Mammalogy 45(2) 241-245 https://doi.org/10.1071/AM22021
Submitted: 23 June 2022 Accepted: 12 October 2022 Published: 24 October 2022
© 2023 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing on behalf of the Australian Mammal Society.
Abstract
An understanding of the factors associated with post-release survivorship in rehabilitated animals is instrumental for evaluating best-practice rehabilitation and release methods to ultimately achieve optimal conservation outcomes. However, there is almost nothing reported in the scientific literature concerning post-release survivorship in hand-reared flying-foxes, with the only published study to date suggesting that hand-reared flying-foxes have significantly reduced mean longevity following release. We report a case of a hand-reared grey-headed flying-fox (Pteropus poliocephalus) that was fitted with a metal identification band when it was released in 2004 and recovered alive in 2022. This information provides clear evidence of this individual having post-release survivorship of 18 years. The distance between the release and recovery locations was approximately 297 km, corresponding with the species’ known nomadism. Based on the current scientific information on longevity in the grey-headed flying-fox, this individual would be considered an old animal.
Keywords: Australian Bird and Bat Banding Scheme, bats, Chiroptera, individual identification methods, longevity, Pteropodidae, threatened species, wildlife rehabilitation.
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