Using wildlife carer records to identify patterns in flying-fox rescues: a case study in New South Wales, Australia
Matthew Mo
A C , Mike Roache A , Ron Haering B and Alan Kwok B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Saving our Species Program, Biodiversity and Conservation Division, Department of Planning, Industry and Environment, 4 Parramatta Square, 12 Darcy Street, Parramatta, NSW 2150, Australia.
B National Parks and Wildlife Service, Department of Planning, Industry and Environment, 4 Parramatta Square, 12 Darcy Street, Parramatta, NSW 2150, Australia.
C Corresponding author. Email: matthew.mo@environment.nsw.gov.au
Pacific Conservation Biology - https://doi.org/10.1071/PC20031
Submitted: 4 April 2020 Accepted: 28 June 2020 Published online: 31 July 2020
Abstract
Injured flying-foxes (Pteropus spp.) are frequently taken into care in eastern Australia. In particular, the grey-headed flying-fox (P. poliocephalus), a vulnerable species, is affected by several threats, which are partly mitigated through rescue and rehabilitation. This study examined patterns in flying-fox rescues in New South Wales (NSW) between 2011–12 and 2016–17 using annual reporting data from wildlife rehabilitation organisations. Specifically, we examined (1) species and demographic patterns in flying-foxes rescues; (2) the geographical distribution of flying-fox rescues; (3) reported causes of injury; and (4) release rates of rehabilitated flying-foxes. P. poliocephalus accounted for the largest proportion of flying-fox rescues. Most rescues occurred in coastal regions, with more than one-third of P. poliocephalus rescues occurring in the Sydney region and more than one-third of black (P. alecto) and little red (P. scapulatus) flying-fox rescues occurring on the NSW Far North Coast. A broad range of factors was involved in flying-foxes coming into care, the main ones being entanglements, heat stress, orphaned pups and electrocutions. Release rates of rehabilitated flying-foxes were high, especially in pups and juveniles. These results demonstrate the potential conservation value of flying-fox rehabilitation. High proportions of injuries caused by entanglements, heat stress and electrocutions highlight the importance of ongoing threat mitigation efforts.
Additional keywords: barbed-wire, bats, fruit-netting, human–wildlife interaction.
References
Augee, M. L., and Ford, D. (1999). Radio-tracking studies of grey-headed flying-foxes, Pteropus poliocephalus, from the Gordon colony, Sydney. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 121, 61–70.Burton, N. (2006). Diet and movements of grey-headed flying-foxes (Pteropus poliocephalus) from a colony at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney. B.Sc.(Honours) thesis, University of Sydney.
Burton, E., and Tribe, A. (2016). The rescue and rehabilitation of koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) in southeast Queensland. Animals 6, 56.
| The rescue and rehabilitation of koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) in southeast Queensland.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Currey, K., Kendal, D., van der Ree, R., and Lentini, P. E. (2018). Land manager perspectives on conflict mitigation strategies for urban flying-fox camps. Diversity 10, 39.
| Land manager perspectives on conflict mitigation strategies for urban flying-fox camps.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (2020). Cocos palms and flying-foxes. Available at: https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/topics/animals-and-plants/native-animals/native-animal-facts/flying-foxes/why-protected/cocos-palms-a-threat [accessed 27 July 2020].
Dickman, C., and Fleming, M. (2002). Pest, or passenger pigeon? The New South Wales Scientific Committee’s assessment of the status of the grey-headed flying-fox. In ‘Managing the Grey-headed Flying-fox as a Threatened Species in New South Wales’. (Eds P. Eby, and D. Lunney.) pp. 20–28. (Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales: Sydney.)
Divljan, A., Parry-Jones, K., Griffith, M., Whitney, J., Burton, N., Smith, C., and Wardle, G. M. (2011a). Practical solutions for capturing and processing grey-headed flying-foxes, Pteropus poliocephalus, based on a camp study at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney. In ‘The Biology and Conservation of Australasian Bats’. (Eds B. Law, P. Eby, D. Lunney, and L. Lumsden.) pp. 168–174. (Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales: Sydney.)
Divljan, A., Parry-Jones, K., and Eby, P. (2011b). Deaths and injuries to grey-headed flying-foxes Pteropus poliocephalus shot at an orchard near Sydney, NSW. Australian Zoologist 35, 698–710.
| Deaths and injuries to grey-headed flying-foxes Pteropus poliocephalus shot at an orchard near Sydney, NSW.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Eby, P. (2000). The results of four synchronous assessments of relative distribution and abundance of grey-headed flying-fox Pteropus poliocephalus. In ‘Proceedings of a Workshop to Assess the Status of the Grey-headed Flying-fox’. (Eds G. Richards, and L. Hall.) pp. 67–73. (Australasian Bat Society: Canberra.)
Englefield, B., Starling, M., and McGreevy, P. (2018). A review of roadkill rescue: who cares for the mental, physical and financial welfare of Australian wildlife carers? Wildlife Research 45, 103–118.
| A review of roadkill rescue: who cares for the mental, physical and financial welfare of Australian wildlife carers?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Griffith, J. E., Dhand, N. K., Krockenberger, M. B., and Higgins, D. P. (2013). A retrospective study of admission trends of koalas to a rehabilitation facility over 30 years. Journal of Wildlife Diseases 49, 18–28.
| A retrospective study of admission trends of koalas to a rehabilitation facility over 30 years.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 23307368PubMed |
Guy, A. J., and Banks, P. B. (2012). A survey of current rehabilitation practices for native mammals in eastern Australia. Australian Mammalogy 34, 108–118.
| A survey of current rehabilitation practices for native mammals in eastern Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Guy, A. J., Curnoe, D., and Banks, P. B. (2013). A survey of current mammal rehabilitation and release practices. Biodiversity and Conservation 22, 825–837.
| A survey of current mammal rehabilitation and release practices.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Haering, R., Wilson, V., Zhuo, A., and Stathis, P. (2020). Towards a more effective model of wildlife care and rehabilitation: a survey of volunteers in New South Wales, Australia. Australian Zoologist 40, 605–627.
| Towards a more effective model of wildlife care and rehabilitation: a survey of volunteers in New South Wales, Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Heathcote, G., Hobday, A. J., Spaulding, M., Gard, M., and Irons, G. (2019). Citizen reporting of wildlife interactions can improve impact-reduction programs and support wildlife carers. Wildlife Research 46, 415–428.
| Citizen reporting of wildlife interactions can improve impact-reduction programs and support wildlife carers.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Law, B. S., Mackowski, C., Schoer, L., and Tweedie, T. (2000). The flowering phenology of myrtaceous trees and their relation to environmental and disturbance variables in northern New South Wales. Austral Ecology 25, 160–178.
| The flowering phenology of myrtaceous trees and their relation to environmental and disturbance variables in northern New South Wales.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Maclean, J. (2011). The ‘Devil’s rope’: flying-foxes in barbed wire fences. In ‘The Biology and Conservation of Australasian Bats’. (Eds B. Law, P. Eby, D. Lunney, and L. Lumsden.) pp. 421–423. (Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales: Sydney.)
Markus, N., and Blackshaw, J. K. (1998). Motivations and characteristics of volunteer flying-fox rehabilitators in Australia. Anthrozoos 11, 203–209.
| Motivations and characteristics of volunteer flying-fox rehabilitators in Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Martin, L. (2011). Is the fruit you eat flying-fox friendly? The effects of orchard electrocution grids on Australian flying-foxes (Pteropus spp., Megachiroptera). In ‘The Biology and Conservation of Australasian Bats’. (Eds B. Law, P. Eby, D. Lunney, and L. Lumsden.) pp. 380–390. (Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales: Sydney.)
McClelland, K. (2009). Challenges and recovery actions for the widespread, threatened grey-headed flying-fox: a review from a New South Wales policy perspective. Ecological Management & Restoration 10, S110–S116.
| Challenges and recovery actions for the widespread, threatened grey-headed flying-fox: a review from a New South Wales policy perspective.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
McKechnie, A. E., and Wolf, B. O. (2019). The physiology of heat tolerance in small endotherms. Physiology 34, 302–313.
| The physiology of heat tolerance in small endotherms.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 31389778PubMed |
McMichael, L., Edson, D., McLaughlin, A., Mayer, D., Kopp, S., Meers, J., and Field, H. (2015). Haematology and plasma biochemistry of wild black flying-foxes (Pteropus alecto) in Queensland, Australia. PLoS One 10, e0125741.
| Haematology and plasma biochemistry of wild black flying-foxes (Pteropus alecto) in Queensland, Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 26625128PubMed |
Mo, M., Roache, M., Williams, R., Drinnan, I., and Noël, B. (2020). From cleared buffers to camp dispersal: mitigating impacts of the Kareela flying-fox camp on adjacent residents and schools. Australian Zoologist , .
| From cleared buffers to camp dispersal: mitigating impacts of the Kareela flying-fox camp on adjacent residents and schools.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
NSW Scientific Committee (2001). Grey-headed flying-fox – vulnerable species listing. Unpublished report. NSW Scientific Committee, Sydney.
Office of Environment and Heritage (2011). Code of practice for injured, sick and orphaned protected fauna. Office of Environment and Heritage, Sydney.
Office of Environment and Heritage (2012). Code of practice for injured, sick and orphaned flying-foxes. Office of Environment and Heritage, Sydney.
Páez, D. J., Restif, O., Eby, P., and Plowright, R. K. (2018). Optimal foraging in seasonal environments: implications for residency of Australian flying-foxes in food-subsidised urban landscapes. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences 373, 20170097.
| Optimal foraging in seasonal environments: implications for residency of Australian flying-foxes in food-subsidised urban landscapes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 29531151PubMed |
Pallin, N. (2000). Ku-ring-gai Flying-fox Reserve: habitat restoration project, 15 years on. Ecological Management & Restoration 1, 10–20.
| Ku-ring-gai Flying-fox Reserve: habitat restoration project, 15 years on.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Parry-Jones, K., Webster, K. N., and Divljan, A. (2016). Baseline levels of faecal glucocorticoid metabolites and indications of chronic stress in the vulnerable grey-headed flying-fox, Pteropus poliocephalus. Australian Mammalogy 38, 195–203.
| Baseline levels of faecal glucocorticoid metabolites and indications of chronic stress in the vulnerable grey-headed flying-fox, Pteropus poliocephalus.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Pearson, T. (2011). Black flying-foxes in Sydney. Available at: https://sydneybats.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Black_flying-foxes_in_Sydney.pdf [accessed 16 September 2019].
Pinson, D., and Kerr, C. (2009). The use of soluble aspirin as a means to limit ischemic necrosis of wing membrane in entangled flying-foxes (Pteropus spp.) by increasing blood perfusion to traumatised tissue. Available at: https://www.wildlifefriendlyfencing.com/WFF/Injuries___Bats_files/Aspirin.pdf [accessed 16 September 2019].
Ratnayake, H. U., Kearney, M. R., Govekar, P., Karoly, D., and Welbergen, J. A. (2019). Forecasting wildlife die-offs from extreme heat events. Animal Conservation 22, 386–395.
| Forecasting wildlife die-offs from extreme heat events.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Roberts, B. J., Catterall, C. P., Eby, P., and Kanowski, J. (2012). Latitudinal range shifts in Australian flying-foxes: a re-evaluation. Austral Ecology 37, 12–22.
| Latitudinal range shifts in Australian flying-foxes: a re-evaluation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Scheelings, T. F., and Frith, S. E. (2015). Anthropogenic factors are the major cause of hospital admission of a threatened species, the grey-headed flying-fox (Pteropus poliocephalus), in Victoria, Australia. PLoS One 10, e0133638.
| Anthropogenic factors are the major cause of hospital admission of a threatened species, the grey-headed flying-fox (Pteropus poliocephalus), in Victoria, Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 26207984PubMed |
Steffen, W., Hughes, L., and Perkins, S. (2014). Heatwaves: hotter, longer, more often. Climate Council, Sydney.
Tait, J., Perotto-Baldivieso, H. L., McKeown, A., and Westcott, D. A. (2014). Are flying-foxes coming to town? Urbanisation of the spectacled flying-fox (Pteropus conspicillatus) in Australia. PLoS One 9, e109810.
| Are flying-foxes coming to town? Urbanisation of the spectacled flying-fox (Pteropus conspicillatus) in Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 25295724PubMed |
Taylor-Brown, A., Booth, R., Gillett, A., Mealy, E., Ogbourne, M., Polkinghorne, A., and Conroy, G. C. (2019). The impact of human activities on Australian wildlife. PLoS One 14, e0206958.
| The impact of human activities on Australian wildlife.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 30673712PubMed |
Tidemann, C. (1999). Biology and management of the grey-headed flying-fox, Pteropus poliocephalus. Acta Chiropterologica 1, 151–164.
Tidemann, C. R., and Nelson, J. E. (2011). Life expectancy, causes of death and movements of the grey-headed flying-fox (Pteropus poliocephalus) inferred from banding. Acta Chiropterologica 13, 419–429.
| Life expectancy, causes of death and movements of the grey-headed flying-fox (Pteropus poliocephalus) inferred from banding.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Tidemann, C. R., Eby, P., Parry-Jones, K., and Vardon, M. (1999). Grey-headed flying-fox, Pteropus poliocephalus. In ‘The Action Plan for Australian Bats’. (Eds A. Duncan, G. B. Banker, and N. Montgomery.) pp. 31–35. (Environment Australia: Canberra.)
Tribe, A., and Brown, P. R. (2000). The role of wildlife rescue groups in the care and rehabilitation of Australian fauna. Human Dimensions of Wildlife 5, 69–85.
| The role of wildlife rescue groups in the care and rehabilitation of Australian fauna.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
van der Ree, R. (1999). Barbed wire fencing as a hazard for wildlife. Victorian Naturalist 116, 210–217.
Welbergen, J. A., Klose, S. M., Markus, N., and Eby, P. (2008). Climate change and the effects of temperature extremes on Australian flying-foxes. Proceedings. Biological Sciences 275, 419–425.
| Climate change and the effects of temperature extremes on Australian flying-foxes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 18048286PubMed |
Williams, N. S. G., McDonnell, M. J., Phelan, G. K., Keim, L. D., and van der Ree, R. (2006). Range expansion due to urbanisation: increased food resources attract grey-headed flying-foxes (Pteropus poliocephalus) to Melbourne. Austral Ecology 31, 190–198.
| Range expansion due to urbanisation: increased food resources attract grey-headed flying-foxes (Pteropus poliocephalus) to Melbourne.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
