Flying Foxes and the Science They Helped Uncover
In the world of science, animals often play a big role. But how do we know if the tools we use on them cause any harm? This is a big question.
The Study
In 2018, two male grey-headed flying-foxes, named Brian and David, were caught in Adelaide Botanic Park. They were part of a group of nine bats studied.
- Brian was about 3 years old
- David was around 5 years old
Scientists put small bands on their thumbs and implanted transmitters inside them. These transmitters helped track their body temperature.
After releasing them, data was collected for:
- 21 days from Brian
- 65 days from David
The Findings
- Brian was found dead in June 2025, about 6.5 years later, 2.6 km from where he was caught.
- David was found dead in April 2024, about 5.3 years later, 9.4 km away.
The scientists did a detailed exam on both bats. The big question was: did the bands and transmitters hurt the bats?
From what they saw, it didn't seem so. But, since only two bats were studied, it's hard to say for sure.
Still, this kind of long-term data is rare. It's important to thank these bats for their help, even if they didn't choose to be part of the study.
The Importance of the Study
Flying-foxes are amazing creatures. They play a big role in their ecosystems. But, like all wild animals, they face many dangers.
This study helps us understand more about them. It also makes us think about how we study animals. We need to be careful and think about their well-being.
