Mandalong is home to a significant summer camp of Grey-headed (Pteropus poliocephalus) and Black Flying- foxes (Pteropus alecto). From time to time the camp also includes the Little Red Flying Fox (Pteropus scapulatus).
Local knowledge indicates that the summer camp has been established for at least 100 years.
The Grey-headed Flying-fox is a threatened species. The flying-foxes have a strong affinity with one group of trees and use the same camp year after year. The camp size varies depending on the season and the amount of food (blossom) available locally. Nationally their numbers are decreasing due to loss of habitat. Flying-foxes are crucial to keeping native forests healthy by pollinating plants and dispersing seed. As a result, they have a crucial role to play in conserving native plants and animals.
The Mandalong camp was monitored between 2007 and 2009 as part of an extensive survey covering NSW, QLD and VIC.
The camp is currently being monitored quarterly by The NSW Office of Environment & Heritage as part of a national program. This program will provide data to inform decision making for flying-fox conservation and will also help inform public concerns about the impact of flying-foxes on industry, agriculture and public health, including Hendra outbreaks.
The Mandalong camp makes an important contribution to the survival of this species.
For interesting facts about flying-foxes go to:
Living with Flying-foxes
With a Flying-fox summer camp situated in Mandalong you may be concerned about risks to your health and curious to know more about them.
Flying foxes are not a health risk to you unless you are bitten or scratched, so please do not handle them. As forest-makers, flying-foxes do a lot of good in our environment. But they are threatened and in decline. To conserve flying- foxes we need to share our neighbourhood and protect their habitat.
Viruses hosted by Flying Foxes
Flying-foxes pose no health risks unless you are bitten or scratched, so it is very important that you never handle them. Australian bat lyssavirus and Hendra virus are two diseases associated with flying-foxes. The risk of flying-foxes transmitting disease to humans is extremely low. Provided basic hygiene measures are taken there is no reason to be concerned.
For more information go to:
NSW Dept Environment and Heritage
Information on viruses hosted by Flying Foxes
Information on the Hendra Virus
Q&A on the Hendra virus vaccine
Emergency advice for injured or entangled Flying- foxes
If you find a Flying Fox or bat of any sort do not handle or attempt to rescue.
Call WIRES immediately 1300 094 737
