A colony of about 1,000 flying foxes in Naracoorte, South Australia, lost more than 80% of its population during June's intense heatwaves. Only 180 bats survived, including 34 babies that now face several months of recovery.

Separate heatwaves in January and last week also killed thousands of flying foxes in Victoria. These losses included over 700 bats at a camp in Tatura and 100 in Melbourne's Brimbank Park. To help prevent further deaths, volunteers and local authorities worked together to mist the bats with water and provide drinking stations.

Even after the heatwaves pass, the pressure remains. Rescuing and caring for the surviving bats is expensive because they require large amounts of fresh fruit every day.