72,000 Flying Foxes Perished in Australia's Black Summer; Climate Change Blamed

• Over 72,000 flying foxes died during Australia's Black Summer due to extreme heat events.
• Thousands more bats, primarily Grey-headed flying foxes, perished in January's record-breaking heatwave exceeding 42 °C.
• Wildlife groups in Victoria, New South Wales, and South Australia reported mass deaths, with many pups orphaned.
• Scientists confirm extreme temperatures overwhelmed bats' cooling abilities, leading to dehydration, exhaustion, and starvation.
• Experts warn climate change is increasing the frequency of such heat stress events, threatening vulnerable species.

Why It Matters: Climate change-induced heatwaves are causing catastrophic die-offs of flying foxes in Australia, threatening their survival.