NIGHTWINGS RAINFOREST
BAT RESCUE, CARE & REHABILITATION
Bats play a crucial role in forest ecology.
They are classified into two distinct groups: Flying Foxes and Microbats. The first is the larger sized bats, that boast excellent eyesight, hearing, and sense of smell to navigate. The latter relies on echolocation for travel and catching a large number of insects.
Both of them play a vital role in the Australian ecosystem.
Flying Foxes can cross-fertilize tall coastal forest trees and bushland, they cover a longer distance than bees or birds, and they can disperse up to 3000 seeds at night when most of the hardwood tree species are receptive to fertilization.
Flying Foxes together with Microbats are the world's only flying mammals. They share a lot of similarities with humans: they give birth and nurse their newborn and they devotedly look after their pups. They are warm-blooded animals with elongated fingers, which they use to fly and operate.
Today the increase of urbanisation causes the loss of wildlife habitat and the decline of Flying Foxes at an alarming rate. Clear-cutting forests, bushes, shrubs, and man-made hazards like barbed wire, power lines, cars, roads, pollution and domestic animals all affect the survival of the species. Losing them will have catastrophic consequences for the planet's ecosystem.
NightWings Rainforest gives refuge to bats and other wild little creatures found in trouble. Here at NightWings Rainforest, a rehabilitation facility that includes large flight cages accommodates rescued bats that are sick, injured or orphaned.
They are classified into two distinct groups: Flying Foxes and Microbats. The first is the larger sized bats, that boast excellent eyesight, hearing, and sense of smell to navigate. The latter relies on echolocation for travel and catching a large number of insects.
Both of them play a vital role in the Australian ecosystem.
Flying Foxes can cross-fertilize tall coastal forest trees and bushland, they cover a longer distance than bees or birds, and they can disperse up to 3000 seeds at night when most of the hardwood tree species are receptive to fertilization.
Flying Foxes together with Microbats are the world's only flying mammals. They share a lot of similarities with humans: they give birth and nurse their newborn and they devotedly look after their pups. They are warm-blooded animals with elongated fingers, which they use to fly and operate.
Today the increase of urbanisation causes the loss of wildlife habitat and the decline of Flying Foxes at an alarming rate. Clear-cutting forests, bushes, shrubs, and man-made hazards like barbed wire, power lines, cars, roads, pollution and domestic animals all affect the survival of the species. Losing them will have catastrophic consequences for the planet's ecosystem.
NightWings Rainforest gives refuge to bats and other wild little creatures found in trouble. Here at NightWings Rainforest, a rehabilitation facility that includes large flight cages accommodates rescued bats that are sick, injured or orphaned.
NightWings Rainforest founder, Annie Schoenberger, wildlife lover and experienced bat carer, has been looking after rescued flying foxes, insect-eating microbats, and other native wild little animals for more than 15 years.
Here at NightWings Rainforest each year, a significant number of injured or orphaned bats receive treatments that include feeding, watering, daily cleaning and medicating (if necessary).
The rehabilitation of bats that involves housing, diet, and overall care is a very costly and time-consuming work. Pups must be hand-fed many times a day, depending on the age of the animal. It may take several weeks or even months of care to prepare the animal for a second chance in its natural habitat. Moreover, it is always necessary to take into consideration the animal’s primary instincts and fear of humans and ensure that those returned to the wild can survive and thrive.
During the birthing season (October-December), NightWings Rainforest helps many flying-fox babies who have been orphaned. They receive baby milk formula when very young and then food and nutrients until their release (around March/April). This exercise costs around $100 for each pup.
NightWings Rainforest warmly welcome all donations - donations are vital in supporting NightWings Rainforest and the bats that are rehabilitated here. Please donate to help NightWings Rainforest looking after our wildlife.
Here at NightWings Rainforest each year, a significant number of injured or orphaned bats receive treatments that include feeding, watering, daily cleaning and medicating (if necessary).
The rehabilitation of bats that involves housing, diet, and overall care is a very costly and time-consuming work. Pups must be hand-fed many times a day, depending on the age of the animal. It may take several weeks or even months of care to prepare the animal for a second chance in its natural habitat. Moreover, it is always necessary to take into consideration the animal’s primary instincts and fear of humans and ensure that those returned to the wild can survive and thrive.
During the birthing season (October-December), NightWings Rainforest helps many flying-fox babies who have been orphaned. They receive baby milk formula when very young and then food and nutrients until their release (around March/April). This exercise costs around $100 for each pup.
NightWings Rainforest warmly welcome all donations - donations are vital in supporting NightWings Rainforest and the bats that are rehabilitated here. Please donate to help NightWings Rainforest looking after our wildlife.
FOUND A BAT IN TROUBLE ?
Please DO NOT TOUCH any bat or attempt to rescue a bat yourself!
Call a Wildlife Rescue Helpline or centre. You will then be directed to the closest rescue centre.
Bats are not purposely aggressive and it is uncommon for them to come directly into contact with people, but they can try to defend themselves if they are trapped, frightened, hurt or in pain. It is important to be careful when coming into contact with bats because they may carry a virus ABLV (Australian Bat Lyssa Virus) which is similar to the rabies virus and is harmful to humans.
Thus, only vaccinated and trained people should handle a bat. Sometimes bats need rescuing when they get trapped in fruit netting or have entangled themselves in barbed wire fences, after a car collision or if electrocuted on power lines. Sometimes pups can be found on the ground after getting separated from their mothers or due to other stress events.
Therefore, please consult a trained bat carer or a Wildlife Rescue organisation.
Call a Wildlife Rescue Helpline or centre. You will then be directed to the closest rescue centre.
Bats are not purposely aggressive and it is uncommon for them to come directly into contact with people, but they can try to defend themselves if they are trapped, frightened, hurt or in pain. It is important to be careful when coming into contact with bats because they may carry a virus ABLV (Australian Bat Lyssa Virus) which is similar to the rabies virus and is harmful to humans.
Thus, only vaccinated and trained people should handle a bat. Sometimes bats need rescuing when they get trapped in fruit netting or have entangled themselves in barbed wire fences, after a car collision or if electrocuted on power lines. Sometimes pups can be found on the ground after getting separated from their mothers or due to other stress events.
Therefore, please consult a trained bat carer or a Wildlife Rescue organisation.
NightWings Rainforest - PO Box 1395 Mossman QLD 4873 Australia - Ph: +61 7 4098 7502 - email: info@nightwings.com.au