The Sunshine Coast hinterland’s renowned natural scientist, zoologist Dr Les Hall has spent an academic lifetime studying bats both here and in bat-rich Borneo where he has trained many budding zoologists in that country.
He is passionate about raising the public profile of bats which have received a battering in recent years with the emergence of the Hendra and Lyssa viruses attributed to the country-wide flying fox.
Les said the public fear and wariness of bats goes back centuries when bats were associated with vampires and witch’s brews.
“Most people have always been fearful of these black leathery things that fly around at night,” he said.
Dr Hall was made an AM in this year’s Queen’s Birthday honours list and has won a prestigious Whitley Award from the Royal Zoological Society of NSW for his pocket guide – Bats – published with photographer, Steve Parish.
Tomorrow Les and Bat Rescue Inc. will speak at Noosa U3A on the challenges of managing the bat population. Full details available on U3A website www.u3anoosa.org.au or phone 5440 5500.
