Grey-Headed Flying Fox
Diet and Importance
Like most flying foxes the Grey-Headed Flying Fox mainly feed on pollen and nectar but will occasionally feed on fruits. Bees and birds are given most of the credit for pollination but bats can pollinate a much larger area then bees! They also will pollinate native trees and forests that only release their pollen at night.
Their Not Monsters
When I say the word "Bat" most people think of menacing screams in the dead of night, death curdling blood sucking vampires and disease ridden creatures. But it is actually quite the opposite! There is only one type of blood sucking bat, the vampire bat! In all of Austraila's history only 3 people have died from bat transmitted diseases! 25 people die a year from Horses! Most people think that all bats have diseases that are dangerous to humans but very few actually do. It is usually the really sick bats that have the diseases that cause problems to humans. The main thing is to not touch or pick up bats especially sick or injured bats. Call 1300 animal the they will find a origination that will come and rescue it.
The Grey Headed Flying Fox are extremely intelligent, much more then people give them credit for. They get their intelligence because it is believed they are related to lemurs and are a member of the primate family!
The Grey Headed Flying Fox are extremely intelligent, much more then people give them credit for. They get their intelligence because it is believed they are related to lemurs and are a member of the primate family!
Threats
The Grey Headed Flying Foxes are classed as Vulnerable. All Flying foxes have the same threats. Barb wire fencing, fruit netting, when flying foxes get tired they will go on power lines and that will electrocute them. Originally it was illegal to shoot bats but now it is legal to shoot bats in a lot of areas! But their main threat is habitat destruction. The Grey Headed Flying Fox is a very misunderstood animal. Because of this people are less likely to help them compared to other native animals like the Koala and bilby.
Conservation
ABC (Australian Bat Clinic), Bats QLD , WIRES, Batavia Flying Fox Sanctuary and many more great organisations rehabilitate sick and orphaned bats. These organisations often need volunteers to help. If you are able to help please contact them.
How You Can Help
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Image Credits
www.wildlifefriendlyfencing.com
www.incrediblesnaps.com
www.incrediblesnaps.com