Sarah's Bats in Sydney, Australia | Education

Sarah's Bats

Locality: Sydney, Australia

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• Education
• Wildlife sanctuary
• Animal shelter

15.05.2022 I was aware of a few 15 year old handraised recaptures, but 19 is quite a lifetime for a wild old bat. Sadly the life expectancy of wild grey-headed flying-foxes is thought to be around 7-8 years, despite knowing that in captivity they can live up to 30 years!

05.05.2022 An entire colony of these little piggies came down in the rain a few weeks back causing a range of injuries from mild bumps and bruises to broken bones, head and spinal injuries and internal bleeding. I took in 9 of them, sadly 3 had injuries which were too severe and so were humanely euthanised, but the other 6 are still recovering and going strong, set to get back out in to the wild soon. Thank you to everyone who contributed to this mammoth effort. Of 74 bats over 50 have ...already been released again. They are such cool little beasts and incredibly important for healthy ecosystems due to the free pest control they provide for us each night. @wireswildliferescue @thewildphysio #batsofinstagram #tads #austronomusaustralis #whitestripedfreetail #mastiffbat #pigsdofly #whenpigsfly #australianwildlife #wildliferescue #wildliferehab See more

24.04.2022 The situation in Kharkiv is still difficult, however the city is under Ukrainian control!!! Regretfully the heavy bombarding of residential areas is going on f...or two days! Fortunately any of our team member not injured! We are in different districts of the city hiding and working with bats, managing the databases. Electricity light is not desirable, that why we use candles. Thanks to all of our permanent and new Patrons, and please continue to follow https://www.patreon.com/batsukraine Link in bio

19.04.2022 That is fantastic news amongst horrific circumstances. Stay safe!

02.04.2022 SEVERE WEATHER ALERT With severe flooding occurring across SE Queensland and now Northern NSW, we are in constant contact with rescue groups in those areas... and our local volunteers, offering any assistance we can provide. Currently the widespread flooding means roads and access to areas where animals may be impacted is severely limited. Our Emergency Response vehicles are rescuing where they can and on standby to provide help when the water levels begin to subside. As the water recedes we would expect the communities in flooded areas to find impacted wildlife that will require assistance. Major flooding is also now widespread in northern NSW and we are supporting our volunteers in those areas. We are sourcing equipment, supplies and other resources to ensure they are supported throughout this emergency. WIRES is advising its volunteers & the local communities to stay abreast of changing weather advice and adhere to any emergency warnings issued in their local area from authorities such as the BOM & SES. Wildlife may become affected as they become distressed, waterlogged or displaced by rising floodwaters and heavy rainfall. Please remain vigilant and report any animals in distress or needing assistance to WIRES on 1300 094 737. Please take care when travelling outdoors and never enter floodwaters. #WIRESWildlifeRescue #NSWFloods #QLDFloods #AustraliaFloods #WildlifeRescue #AnimalRescue #ExtremeWeather

25.01.2022 Happy Monday!! Love Uno (Number One) ... Bats are not pets, Uno is in care being raised for release back to the wild where she belongs, I’m a licensed and vaccinated carer with @wireswildliferescue #mondayvibes #mondayfeels #numberone #babybat #batsofinstagram #orphanedwildlife #orphan #wildlife See more

25.01.2022 If you’re going to get entangled, get entangled with a view... And if you’re going to use fruit tree netting, please only choose nets that have fine mesh, like fly screen, as even 2mm aperture nets are capable of entangling toes and thumbs, causing significant harm and suffering to our precious native wildlife. For more information on choosing wildlife friendly netting for happy fruit trees and happy wildlife, please visit; www.wildlifefriendlyfencing.com and if you come across any bat by itself during the day or unable to fly away when approached at any time, DON’T TOUCH, urgently contact your local wildlife rescue for specialist assistance.

23.01.2022 Have I mentioned how lucky I am to have the support of some incredible vets and nurses, who give up their time and expertise to provide top quality #veterinary care to the bats that I #rescue and whom without I could not do what I do. Because no one owns our wildlife, no one pays their vet bills when they do get in to strife, so we really do depend on donations from the public which includes the generosity of vet hospitals who are willing to provide additional veterinary care... to wildlife patients, often free of charge or at significantly discounted rate. Thank you to Dr Adrian and Nurse Vicky from Sydney Veterinary Emergency Specialists for spending 3 hours with me this afternoon to get bloods, urine, xrays and even an ultrasound! #veterinarymedicine #criticalcare #veterinarian #wildlife #wildliferescue #rescueanimals #rescueanimalsofinstagram #wildlifeofinstagram #batsofinstagram #anesthetic #sonography #ultrasound #wildlifenurse WIRES See more

21.01.2022 Bat Food! Nom nom nom

20.01.2022 Rescue with a view. Unfortunately sad outcome, but the best outcome for this young lady bat.

18.01.2022 Looking forward to attending the premiere of this epic film about flying-foxes and climate change THIS THURSDAY. Live screenings occurring in Sydney & Brisbane or you can also book in for the online screening if you can’t make it. I’ll be part of the Q&A panel to answer any burning questions about bats. The premiere will also kick off with live performance by the incredible musician and star of the show @lupa.j (whose clever mumma created the film). Jason Di Rosso of RN’s Th...e Screen Show describes it as a poetic and evocative, confronting reflection on the psychological stresses of climate change on everyday lives. 7 pm | Thursday 24th Sept | & simultaneously streaming online for those who can’t make the screenings. Book here: Sydney: https://fan-force.com//the-weather-diaries-event-cinemas-/ Brisbane: https://fan-force.com/sc/the-weather-diaries-indooroopilly/ Virtual Screening: https://www.fanforcetv.com/programs/theweatherdiaries @event_cinemas

17.01.2022 Today’s rescues... chilling out in their rescue slings after being trapped underneath dodgy backyard fruit tree netting for several days. Only choose mesh that is fine as fly/screen or insect mesh, and always ensure it is free from holes and tied off at the bottom to prevent entrapment of precious bats or any other native wildlife.

16.01.2022 This heavily pregnant grey-headed flying-fox was rescued by Jessi with the help of the wonderful @fireandrescuensw as she was hanging more than 20m up on the side of a building. She had smacked something so hard causing nasty head injury including trauma to both eyes, possible skull fracture. She came to me for emergency care, thankfully she was not too dehydrated which made it slightly easier to treat her severe head injury with IV medicine to reduce the swelling on her brai...n, and pain relief. She has responded really nicely, and has also held on to her baby, which is not far off from being full term. She is not out of the woods, her eye and head injury are profound - however early signs of responsiveness to treatment are promising. Thanks to Dr Adrian from Sydney Veterinary Emergency Specialists for his generous assistance (as always). Swipe all the way to the right to see her progress from when she first came in rather twisted and flat. @nswfiremedia @wireswildliferescue

15.01.2022 PART 2: I made a bat! Well, I helped deliver him via an emergency c-section last week, due to the pregnant mother sustaining life threatening injuries from which she would have suffered immensely and never been able to survive in the wild again. This precious little life had a very rough start and has been in intensive care for the last week and is finally starting to do well after being born with a lot of fluid on the lungs. Check out the vids to see his progression over the... first 48hrs. This bat is not a pet. Grey-headed Flying-foxes are native Australian animals, and this guy will be raised for release back to the wild under my license as a trained and vaccinated volunteer with WIRES #intensivecare #criticalcare #neonatology #csectionbaby #emergency #emergencycsection #trauma #wildlife #rescue #wildliferescue #threatenedspecies #australianwildlife #bats #batsofaustralia Massive THANK YOU you to Tanja Zelenko from Sydney Wildlife (Sydney Metropolitan Wildlife Services) and her vet clinic for being there to assist! Frenchs Forest Veterinary Hospital See more

13.01.2022 I rescued this guy hanging weakly, and low to the ground off a brick wall last week (was featured on my story last week). On examination discovered multiple deep puncture wounds consistent with raptor strike (bird of prey). He’s been in a pretty bad way for the last few days, requiring a complete shave-down, antibiotics, strong pain relief, fluid therapy, wound management and special nutrition support to optimise his recovery. He’s starting to hang as of this evening, and loo...king much brighter compared to the first few days in. Enjoy watching him loving the glucose powder as he licks it off the towel in the incubator Never attempt to handle a live bat, any bat by itself during the day or unable / unwilling to fly off when approached is in serious trouble. Urgently contact local wildlife rescue for a trained and vaccinated bat rescue specialist to assist #notouchnorisk

13.01.2022 UPDATE: This is the pregnant female who had the nasty head and eye injury rescued by Jessi and @alexandria_frnsw @fireandrescuensw . Unfortunately despite best efforts we could not save that one eye, but the good news far outweighs the bad because the other eye has fully recovered, her head injury also recovered, provided she demonstrates ability to navigate in the flight facility she will be fine for release back in to the wild but the BEST news is that she finally gave birt...h to a gorgeous and healthy baby boy. Flying-fox mums are the most incredible mothers, who share an intimate bond with their single newborn pup, who they will spend 4-6 months rearing. They are inseparable for the first 4-6 weeks of life where they will even fly out, clinging to their mothers chest as she flys to forage each night until pup is old enough to be left for increasing bouts of time, hidden within the foliage of the camp at first, and then socialising and interacting with other young bats as they become older and stronger. Congratulations mumma! These bats aren’t pets, they are wild animals who have been rescued and are under my care as a vaccinated and trained and licensed bat rescue volunteer with @wireswildliferescue never attempt to handle a live bat, urgently contact your local wildlife rescue if you come across any bat that’s by itself during the day, or hanging low and unable to fly away on approach at any time. #babybat #baby #motherslove #lovebats #wildliferescue #rescuerehabrelease #rescueanimalsofinstagram #australianwildlife #aussiewildlife See more

13.01.2022 I’ve been a bit slack on posting, mostly because it’s been busy busy again. For a few weeks during the recent wind and storms felt like it was raining grounded mothers with newborn pups and heavily pregnant females. Rescues ranging from trapped in courtyards in the pouring rain, netting entanglements and smacking in to buildings and cars. Thankfully, all happy outcomes so far, and are in care doing well. ... These bats are not pets and will be rehabbed for release back to the wild where they belong. Remember if you come across an injured bat, or any bat by itself during the day or unable to fly away on approach at any time URGENTLY contact local wildlife rescue who will send a trained and rabies vaccinated bat rescue specialist to assess. No Touch No Risk! @wireswildliferescue @sydneywildliferescue @sydneybats See more

13.01.2022 I miss being able to hang out this close with the bats, I miss all the batty education events that have been cancelled this year. But it’s a small price to pay to protect those we love, including the species we are trying to preserve. Although the captive bats don’t pose as much of a health risk to the wild bat populations, it’s still important that we are taking care when working with any bats throughout the world, in any capacity, to limit the rare but real possibility of s...preading covid-19 any further than it already has, which includes susceptible species like bats. For recommendations on safe handling of bats during this pandemic please check out IUCN bat specialist group for the most up to date information https://www.iucnbsg.org And for now please enjoy a memory of me and Banksi posing on a pre-Covid education talk, and then some trendsetting pics of me looking super cool as a badass virus ninja in my sweet sweet PPE . . . . Remember I am also a vaccinated and licensed bat rescuer and educator, never attempt to handle any bat. If you come across one by themselves during the day or unable to fly away when approached at any time, urgently contact local wildlife rescue for a trained and vaccinated bat rescue specialist to assess. . . . #minimizeassessprotect #notouchnorisk #conservation #threatenedspecies #pandemic #covid_19 #PPE #IUCN #guidelines #wildlife #protection #education #australia #wildliferehabilitation #wildlifeprotection #batrehabilitation WIRES Walkabout Park Wildlife Sanctuary Sydney Bats Sydney Wildlife (Sydney Metropolitan Wildlife Services) Bat World Sanctuary Bat Conservation International Merlin Tuttle's Bat Conservation Bat Conservation Trust Lubee Bat Conservancy Australasian Bat Society Bat Fly By Night Bat Clinic Flying-foxes of Sydney Shoalhaven Bat Clinic and Sanctuary WRSC Lic Bat Conservation & Rescue QLD

11.01.2022 Getting comfy can be tricky business! This little boy was born in care just over a week ago. His mother had been in care for a long time due to serious injury to her thumb which required multiple surgeries, and so unfortunately was not deemed fit enough for our final release through the flight facility for the year. She will raise her baby in care with me until the baby is volant (flighted) at which point the release facility should reopen and she will go back in to the fligh...t cage with other mothers and pups for several more weeks to further regain the strength and endurance needed to embark on their marathon seed dispersing and pollination rounds that they perform each night as they forage for food. These bats are not pets, and will be returned to the wild where they belong. I am a licensed and vaccinated volunteer. Any bat by itself during the day, or injured and unable to fly away at any time is in trouble. Don’t touch! Urgently contact local wildlife rescue for a vaccinated bat rescue specialist to assess. @sydneybats @wireswildliferescue @sydneywildliferescue @australasianbatsociety See more

11.01.2022 Little would you know, but my mask is sparkly gold... & This is baby Uno, enjoying some cuddles after her bottle. She’s now 3 weeks old, and is also now one of three orphans currently in my care. I will update soon, it’s been busy busy!!! ... Uno is not a pet, and will be raised as a wild bat for release back to the wild where she belongs. I am a vaccinated and licensed carer, never attempt to handle a live bat, if you come across a lone bat by day or unable to fly away on approach at any time urgently contact local wildlife rescue for assistance. @wireswildliferescue @sydneywildliferescue @sydneybats @hsiaustralia @australasianbatsociety #batsofinstagram #wildlife #batty #bats #flyingfox #skypuppy #babybat #orphanedwildlife #orphan #rescueanimalsofinstagram #wildliferescue See more

11.01.2022 #Yoghurt parties are the best! These bats are not pets, they are specially licensed #education animals who live a pampered life in a dedicated wildlife #sanctuary @walkaboutpark and only handled by #vaccinated and trained #wildlife #rangers @sydneybats #neverhandlealivebat #batsofinstagram #baturday #banksi #friends #party #saturday #wildlifephotography #threatenedspecies #australian #nativewildlife

08.01.2022 Oh My God A BABY LIVVY!! Everyone watch this gorgeous, endangered Livingstone’s fruit-bat mother and pup, in the wonderful care of the dedicated rangers at Durrell sanctuary. I sooooo want to visit one day. Bats are not pets, these are specially licensed animals kept in specialised facilities by trained and vaccinated rangers.

08.01.2022 PART 1: I made a bat! Well, I helped deliver him via an emergency c-section last week, due to the pregnant mother sustaining life threatening injuries from which she would have suffered immensely and never been able to survive in the wild again. This precious little life had a very rough start and has been in intensive care for the last week and is finally starting to do well after being born with a lot of fluid on the lungs. Check out the vids to see his progression over the... first 48hrs. This bat is not a pet. Grey-headed Flying-foxes are native Australian animals, and this guy will be raised for release back to the wild under my license as a trained and vaccinated volunteer with WIRES #intensivecare #criticalcare #neonatology #csectionbaby #emergency #emergencycsection #trauma #wildlife #rescue #wildliferescue #threatenedspecies #australianwildlife #bats #batsofaustralia Massive THANK YOU you to Tanja Zelenko from Sydney Wildlife (Sydney Metropolitan Wildlife Services) and her vet clinic for being there to assist! Frenchs Forest Veterinary Hospital See more

07.01.2022 Come and support an epic new documentary about flying-foxes and climate change. Looking forward to being part of the Q&A panel after the film. You can purchase tickets for both Sydney and Brisbane screening.

06.01.2022 My soul just tingled to see one of my most favourite people in the world get some well deserved light shon on the incredible and thankless work that she has been doing for many many years, for some of the most incredible creatures on this planet Ebony McIntosh @cookedbystars (everyone should follow her) https://www.abc.net.au//microbat-living-with-ebony/12241932

06.01.2022 Precious Number One, taking her precious time with the milk bottle. When they are so tiny and young they must adapt to so much, including bottle feeding and taking larger volumes, which means lots of little feeds throughout the day and night. This pup was orphaned at only a day old, possibly born after the trauma her mother had endured, who was still alive at point of pick up with life threatening trauma which cost her her life. Thankfully this little one was seemingly un-inj...ured, just flat, dehydrated and very underweight. I’m licensed and vaccinated with special training to work with these incredible creatures. They are not pets, and she will be raised for release back in to the wild where she belongs. Never handle a live bat. Always contact local wildlife for a trained and vaccinated specialist to assist. @wireswildliferescue See more

03.01.2022 PROGRESS REPORT! Here are some pics of the recent fluorescene stain I did to check how the eyes are progressing, and you can swipe across to see earlier pics from when she first came in to my care. The blood has cleared nicely but there is still a pretty gnarly ulcer (the fluoro green bit) and it still remains unclear as to whether she will have any vision, however the eyeball hopefully won’t break down at this stage. Given we thought the eye was most likely too traumatised t...o recover at all, this is good progress! She probably won’t ever regain full vision, however any residual vision will be helpful for her when she is ready for release. Flying-foxes can survive in the wild with one eye, however this also must be tested and assessed carefully on a case-by-case basis, in case she has major difficulty learning to gauge depth. We will know for certain when she is well enough to go in to the flight facility. She has also not given birth yet, but is imminent! This is another really good sign that the baby wasn’t born prematurely, which is often the case following such trauma. She appears to have recovered from her brain injury too. This was the pregnant female rescued by Jessi, Storm and @alexandria_frnsw @fireandrescuensw that came to me for intensive care 2 weeks ago. @wireswildliferescue #veterinarymedicine #veterinaryophthalmology #australianwildlife #wildlifecarer #opthamology #eyes #trauma #traumarecovery #criticalcare #wildlife #wildliferehab #wildliferescue #rescue #rehabilitate #flyingfoxes #batsofinstagram #batty #bats See more

03.01.2022 It’s #FRUITBATFRIDAY Flying-foxes (a type of large, fruit & nectar eating bat) like Gary here, use their long and rough tongues to extract nectar from flowers. Meanwhile their fur gets smothered in the flowers pollen, which they carry around with them from 50 to several hundred km in a single evening! This is what makes them such effective and essential pollinators! #fruitbatfriday #flyingfox #fridayvibes #fridayfeels #tonguesout #pollinators #batsofinstagram #fruitbatsofinstagram #aussiewildlife #native #factfriday @walkaboutwildlifepark @wireswildliferescue

01.01.2022 PART 3: I made a bat! Well, I helped deliver him via an emergency c-section last week, due to the pregnant mother sustaining life threatening injuries from which she would have suffered immensely and never been able to survive in the wild again. This precious little life had a very rough start and has been in intensive care for the last week and is finally starting to do well after being born with a lot of fluid on the lungs. Check out the vids to see his progression over the... first 48hrs. This bat is not a pet. Grey-headed Flying-foxes are native Australian animals, and this guy will be raised for release back to the wild under my license as a trained and vaccinated volunteer with WIRES. #intensivecare #criticalcare #neonatology #csectionbaby #emergency #emergencycsection #trauma #wildlife #rescue #wildliferescue #threatenedspecies #australianwildlife #bats #batsofaustralia Massive THANK YOU you to Tanja Zelenko from Sydney Wildlife (Sydney Metropolitan Wildlife Services) and her vet clinic for being there to assist! Frenchs Forest Veterinary Hospital See more