WARNING: DISTURBING IMAGES
Disturbing images have emerged after more than 50 little red flying foxes became entangled in driving range nets at Noosa Golf Club, prompting a frantic rescue effort by wildlife carers.
Wildlife Noosa rescuers were called to the club on Tuesday morning after staff discovered dozens of flying foxes caught high in the nets. Club representative Tamara Giles said the club immediately notified wildlife authorities upon making the discovery.
She said a single flying fox had also been found tangled in the nets about a week earlier, and wildlife rescuers were alerted at that time.
Wildlife Noosa’s William Watson and Bernard Jean spent hours at the scene attempting to free the animals, calling in a crane to access those trapped in the upper sections of the netting.
By mid-afternoon, Mr Jean said 10 flying foxes had been rescued alive, with hopes of retrieving another five or six, but the majority had already died.
“It’s an awful sight and it’s going to happen again over the following nights if the nets remain on their flying path,” he said.
Bat Rescue Inc’s Terrie Ridgeway said little red flying foxes were Australia’s most important pollinators and seed dispersers, playing a vital role in forest health by transporting pollen and seeds over long distances.
She described the situation as “horrible”, saying trapped animals could suffer dehydration, heat stress, broken bones and concussions. Ms Ridgeway said she had notified both the RSPCA and the Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation.
An RSPCA spokesperson confirmed they received a rescue call-out on Tuesday morning and requested Australia Zoo to attend.
Little red flying foxes seasonally migrate through Noosa from late spring, coinciding with the flowering of bloodwoods and other eucalypts, and are protected under both state and federal legislation.
