More than 80% of flying fox colony wiped out as January heatwaves kill thousands of bats

Temperatures above 42C are known to cause mortality in flying foxes. Thousands have died nationally since the start of January this year. Photograph: Doug Gimesy/Wildlife Victoria

A colony of about 1,000 flying foxes in a South Australian town has been shattered by the intense heat that gripped south-eastern Australia last week, with more than 80% of the camp at Naracoorte wiped out.

“It’s a devastating loss of numbers,” said Judith Bemmer, a carer at Bat Rescue SA. Among the surviving 180 animals, about 34 underweight and dehydrated babies were rescued, and would face months of recovery.