Australia’s nocturnal forest building mammals
Flying-foxes fulfil unique roles in our ecosystems as the only nocturnal, long distance pollinators and seed dispersers. They are crucial to keeping our native forests and cultivated plants healthy. Learning and caring about these amazing creatures, means supporting healthy environments for all.
Port Douglas and the Endangered Spectacled Flying-fox
The town of Port Douglas was established on lands with connection to the Yidindji, Yirrganydji, Kuku Yalanji and Djabugay people. The area is for long periods of the year, home to a significant number of the remaining endangered Spectacled Flying-foxes. Taking roost in a range of fluctuating camps, between Barrier St, St Crispins Avenue, and Old Port Rd, these fascinating creatures need our protection and compassion. While it may not appear so when looking at a large group of animals in one area, this species is experiencing rapid population decline and was listed as Endangered by the Australian Government on the 22nd of February 2019 under the EPBC Act. A significant colony like the one present in Port Douglas, could represent a remaining stronghold.
Habitat loss, heat events, and human conflict are some of the key threats impacting the Spectacled Flying-fox.
View a recently completed report of the Spectacled Flying-foxes of Port Douglas here.
Observation
The birthing season for the Spectacled Flying-fox happens from September each year, with very young and juvenile pups sticking close to mothers until as late as April. Visitors and residents can witness and delight in mums with their young pups experiencing the early stages of life. Passers by can see the testing out of newly stretched wings and a tangle of limbs up high in the trees as pups play.
Watching and recording what we see while visiting and living around this colony provides a wealth of information to better protect these important animals. It helps to improve the way we as humans understand our relationship to the natural environment, and how we share our remaining wild spaces in the biodiverse wet tropic regions of far north QLD.
Flying-foxes provide essential eco-system services which make them Australia’s secret weapon against climate change.
— Bat Conservation & Rescue Queensland
Rescue
Sometimes our amazing wildlife needs help. In Port Douglas or far north QLD you can contact:
Port Douglas Wildlife Rescue- 0498 708 263
FNQ Wildlife Rescue- (07) 4053 4467
Kate Koel- volunteer wildlife rescuer, registered with FNQ Wildlife Rescue- 0407 908 967
Any flying-fox or bat on its own during the day, especially if on the ground or close to it, needs help. During pup season, it is not uncommon for young flying-foxes to be found hanging low in trees or on the ground.
Please do not touch or attempt to rescue the bat. Only people trained and Rabies vaccinated should handle bats.
Thank you.
Research
With research supported by the Tolga Bat Hospital, the Spectacled Flying-fox colony of Port Douglas is receiving some additional attention.
Key goals include:
-to provide observational data over a 5 year period, with a focus on the birthing season, monitoring of the seasonal populations, and the relationship between flying-foxes and humans in the semi-urban environment
-the development of a site specific rescue methodology, with possible application to flying-fox roosts nation wide and internationally
-positive community building efforts to establish common knowledge around the importance of this keystone species
-tourism outreach projects, providing educational experiences for visitors to FNQ
-creation of educational resources & learning programs designed to be delivered on site around FNQ. Programs will fit within the Australian Curriculum, catering from Foundation to Year 10, with direct links to cross-curriculum priorities and the Science Learning Area.
