Flying fox pups in care

 

By Lib Ruytenberg

January 2007

Spring is the maternity time for flying foxes. Orphaned flying foxes generally come into care in October and November.
Their mothers may have died because of barbed wire or netting entanglement, or electrocution on power lines. Sometimes pups are found alone on power lines or on the ground. In the Northern Rivers we get black flying foxes and grey headed flying foxes. When they come into care, they are fed 4 or 5 times a day and gradually introduced to fruit.

They bond quite strongly with their human carers. At 10-12 weeks of age, they become fully weaned and enjoy a fruit diet. This is also when they start to fly. They are then sent to bat creche for a few weeks before being transferred to a release aviary. They do not miss their human carers at all and enjoy mixing with the other flying foxes. They are released from the aviary after a few weeks and are support fed there for a few months after their release.

This picture shows a black flying fox pup, Robby, on the left and a grey headed flying fox pup, Francie, on the right. Robby was found alone on the ground in Casino and Francie came from Legume where her mum was found electrocuted.

Both have now gone off to creche, and will be released later in the year.

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