Overview
- About 500 flying foxes were found dead at Brooks Creek in Dapto and 170 at Figtree over the weekend.
- Additional deaths were reported at Wolli Creek, Windsor, Parramatta, Campbelltown and Wagga Wagga across New South Wales.
- The bats struggled in 40°C heat, with black flying foxes at Brooks Creek especially affected; the species is listed as vulnerable nationally.
- Volunteers have taken roughly 23–30 orphaned pups into care as recovery and monitoring continue.
- Officials caution the toll could rise due to delayed heat illness and food shortages, and WIRES is calling for sprinkler systems at known roosts.