Since late September 2026 there has been an increase in reports of flying-fox illness and mortalities in NSW and the ACT, including premature births, and deaths in neonatal and adult flying-foxes. Wildlife rehabilitators have also reported a sharp increase in the number of flying-foxes presenting into care.
Grey-headed flying-foxes appear to be the main impacted species, but some reports include black flying-foxes. Affected regions in NSW currently include the south coast, Greater Sydney, Mid North Coast, Hunter and Northern Rivers. Some reports of rainbow lorikeets being similarly impacted have also been received from the NSW south coast, although currently this appears to be on a smaller scale than in flying-foxes.
Investigations into the possible cause/s of the event are ongoing, though mass starvation resulting from food shortages is considered most likely. Flying-foxes and lorikeets rely on nectar from flowering trees as an important food source. Food shortages may arise in association with multiple factors, such as recent weather conditions or asynchronous flowering of food trees in combination with climate change and habitat loss and degradation.
Agencies aware of the event include the Australian Registry of Wildlife Health, Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate ACT Government, NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy the Environment and Water, and Wildlife Health Australia. These organisations are sharing information and monitoring reports from affected areas to help build an understanding of the situation and agencies are liaising where appropriate as further information becomes available. In large-scale wildlife events, investigations need to be targeted at those that will produce the most valuable information. Not every report will lead to further investigation, however reports are valuable as the information provided is recorded and helps us understand the scale of the event.
What to do if you find a sick, injured or dead flying fox:
Members of the public should not handle flying-foxes. This is due to the risk of exposure to diseases such as Australian bat lyssavirus. If you find a sick, injured or orphaned flying-fox, contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitation organisation or local veterinarian.
In the event of a bite, scratch or other significant contact with a bat, seek medical attention urgently. Contact your local GP or Public Health agency for further advice (in NSW call 1300 066 055). Pet owners in affected areas should take steps to prevent direct contact between their pet and a bat e.g. keeping the pet confined at night. If your pet has interacted with a bat, seek prompt assistance from your local veterinary practitioner.
Further resources: