A severe hailstorm that hit the Queensland township of Esk on the weekend has left nearly 120 flying foxes injured, with some in a critical condition. The animals were rescued by volunteers and taken to the RSPCA wildlife hospital in Wacol, in Brisbane's south-west.
The injured bats, a mix of juvenile and adult black, little red and grey-headed flying foxes, included around 60 pups that were orphaned on Saturday night. They were initially assessed by a carer specialising in pups, then warmed up and given fluids.
David Zammit, an Esk local who works for the RSPCA's animal rescue department, said volunteers from Bat Conservation and Rescue Queensland (BCRQ) were sent to check on the local colony after the storm. "The injuries varied, but it was mostly from the impact of the hail. What we saw were faces that were smashed, some broken wings, and also a number of orphans," he said.
The Bureau of Meteorology reported that severe thunderstorm activity had impacted the east coast of central and southern Queensland, with giant hailstones up to 10cm in diameter recorded at numerous locations. The storms brought risks of intense rainfall, flooding, and damaging winds.
Emily Drayton, lead clinical vet at the RSPCA wildlife hospital, said most of the bats had to be euthanised due to the severity of their injuries. "Only about eight adults and 10 pups that came to our hospital survived," she said. The surviving pups will need to be hand-reared, a process that takes several months. The RSPCA advises the public not to touch sick or injured bats but to contact a wildlife rescue organisation instead.
