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

Only 180 bats survived intense heat in South Australian town, including 34 babies that carers say face months of recoveryFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA 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.Sign up to get climate and environment editor Adam Morton’s Clear Air column as a free newsletter Continue reading...