Rescuing a flying-fox in the fork of a tree: this is the Torchbearer
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- Опубліковано 4 січ 2024
- The Torchbearer is an old adult female Grey-Headed Flying-Fox who was noticed in the fork of a tree at Olympic Park, right next to the Cauldron which was lit in 2000 by Cathy Freeman with the Olympic Flame from her torch.
It was New Year's Day after the fireworks the previous night, and she was just lying there in the hollow, half submerged in a puddle of rainwater.
She is very quiet, unfocussed and vague; a typical space cadet who has no real idea of what's going on. I put her condition down to hitting her head; when you fly headfirst in the dark, spook at fireworks, and crash, somewhere in this scenario you will invariably have hit your head.
I didn't really have a lot of faith in her survival, but somehow she managed to survive the night and look not too terrible in the morning.
I had to move her along to a carer the following day and was pleased to hear that she survived night 2 and day 3 with the carer.
She's not doing brilliantly, but she's not getting worse; head injuries can be really tricky sometimes.
Tolga Bat Hospital takes donations for me. Tolga is an awesome place in Far North Queensland, which has charity status. By sending donations to them, they get a percentage (and deserve every cent) and they can allocate money to me for batty expenses without it becoming part of my income stream (which makes tax time difficult).
tolgabathospital.org/donate/
Mention Megabattie or Meg in the PayPal message box and the money will find its way to me.
If no message box appears, please email Jenny to tell her that the money is for me.
IMPORTANT: If you pay through the PayPal Giving Fund, can you please email Jenny with the AMOUNT DONATED and the name under which you have donated, OR just forward along the PP receipt.
The Giving Fund doesn’t charge any fees (so the bats get more money) but PP doesn’t itemise out the amount, they just send a total every month, and we don’t know if the money is for Tolga or for Megabattie.
Here’s Jenny’s email.
jenny@tolgabathospital.org - Домашні улюбленці та дикі тварини
I hope this tough old girl continues to recover and that her collarbones are okay.
I realize she's not outta the woods yet, but I really love how sometimes the worst looking cases at rescue will surprise you and come back around. Great job.
C'mon, Torchbearer, you can do it. Live up to your new, lovely name. We believe in you!
While shes "in the woods" she is safe and warm and gets water and thats a comfort both to her and us humans💛I hope for the best.
The water was an accident because it was in the hollow. She was too unwell to drink any of it anyway. If she managed to climb the tree herself that was as far as she could go.
Some MOP may have picked her up with a stick and put her there to keep her out of the range of dogs.
@@Megabattie I think of the water you give under their scin.
OK. @@monicaalvin8239
She looked like she knocked herself into next week. Hopefully she'll continue to recover.
Poor sweetheart, she really knocked herself into next week. I’m heartened that she has made it through 3 days, it’s a good sign, but nothing is sure with such a bad concussion. I hope. Torchbearer comes through this and is a survivor. The MOP was very sweet and concerned for our girl.🖤🇨🇦
Poor little batty girl. Even though she is so badly hurt, at least she is (as people say in the Southern U S), “someplace safe with somebody good.”
wishing her the best of luck
Poor thing, I'm so glad someone saw her and called for help. Beautiful girl, you'll be ok 🦇💕
I hope she continues her recovery.
She didn't look good collapsed in the fork , maybe she took advantage of the water to keep hydrated
We need you Torchy. Poor little thing.
Thank you SO MUCH for your important help 💚🦇🥰
Prayers for Torchbearer.
Aww, I hope she turns around and makes it.
Aww cutie pie. I hope she recovers. It's sad to see them so whacked out.
Adorable bat burrito 4:24
Just love the MOPS! As Batzilla says, she's off with the bat fairies. And Meg never misses s teaching moment. I echo the MOPS-- bless you real good!
All needed healing to The Torchbearer!
Fingers crossed for a happy outcome. ❤
Lovely big old lady, really spacy, looking like she can still see fireworks. 😳 Thanks for the help as always. Nice concerned MOP. ❤🦇🇨🇦
I hope he survives. Every year, fireworks cause losses to wild and domestic animals when they get scared and run away, and domestic animals often die from fear. I don't like New Year's Eve, every year my pet cats go through a nightmare, and the homeless ones, sometimes I never see them again. Get well Torchbearer🍀
Poor baby, such a lot to recover from, beat up brain and body. Sounds like she isn't giving up, so hang in there, rest, everything will come to you. The juice buffet is fabulous!
Hopefully she will recover and get to fly away. Wishing you well Torchbearer!
Fingers and toes crossed she decides she wants to live and pulls through!
I haven't heard how she is today so I don't know.
Ohhhhhhh , bless her heart ! Keep fighting fur puppy!
Poor Torchbearer. What a grim way to start the year. Relieved that she has made it through a few days and keeping everything crossed that she will improve and make a good recovery. Thanks to the MOP for alerting you. 🙏🤞🦇❤
Wonderful caring MOP restores my faith in Humans. Bless you indeed Meg💕 and bless The Torchbearer!🩶🦇🤗💕💕 I will keep positive prayers for her survival with The kind Carer.💕
Poor, spacey girl. Here's hoping she pulls through. ❤🙏
She really is spacey!! Beautiful girl!❤️🦇🇨🇦
She's a lovable muffin!
Hope she will recover soon🍀. Thanks dear Megabattie for the care❤❤❤❤
🦇🦇💜💜🦇🦇good luck darlin girl! 😊😊
Fingers crossed for her survival. I love the tough, old bats.
Little darling💖 she was so nicely when you took care of her. Hope she recover soon.
I absolutely love your patio where you feed the Magpies(?)🖤🤍, it's very Zen! ALL positive prayers for The Torchbearer's survival.🦇💕
Any holiday with fireworks is so traumatic for all animals, bats especially....the 4th of July, here in Chicago, is the worst..., I might add..my senior animal's here, for this new year was hysterical as one of my failed rescue dogs (mine now for 13 years and always a gentleman) jumped on the bed, shaking so violently because of the new years fireworks, peed all over me, in bed, while I was sleeping.....😅
Golly ...one for the books.
Happy New Year!
Oh dear; dogs react poorly to the subsonic of the fireworks and lightning and thunder.
I don't know if Torch was spooked by the fireworks or not, because I wasn't there at the time she came down. It is possible. The bats seem to all leave the area when the fireworks are on and not come back till it's quiet, but there are always dependent young in the colonies so if there is a colony close to the fireworks sites they will be affected.
Thank you for your reply. You do so much for many. As indicated,
So much pressure of sound for animals misunderstood by humans... be it fireworks, thunder, and th people and the people and the people..(movie Sybil
intended)....we will rescue till we can't...
Giving life a chance. You truly tip the scales towards the good on this earth and few people can own that.
Poor girl! Fireworks terrorize animals across both hemispheres. Our feral cat colony went MIA for two days, except for the old man of the clan. We're fairly certain he's deaf anyway. Those MIA finally showed up in force yesterday, very hungry, quite noisy. Today it's business as usual with the crew on porch railings, on porch chairs, or by the sidewalk all staring at the door. Huge hopes that Torchbearer continues to improve! I recall there have been others who seem to be improving, and then ---- not. Thank you.
What a lovely and kind lady who called you! Go Torchy! ❤️🥰🦇
Hope we have a survivor 🙏 🇨🇦🦇🍁
Hope she pulls through and you can update
Dear Torchbearer, I really hope you pull through! Unfortunately, I suppose the princess is not available to care for you, but I hope your actual carer also has the magic touch. 🤞❤️🦇🙏
Poor beautiful old Batty Lady.
Torchbearer, my sweethart, fight ❤❤❤
Come on, batty recover soon, i hope you feel better now!! Poor girl, she was so passive when she was with you in your house. Fingers crossed
Poor little Petal hope that girl made it 💕
❤🦇❤🦇❤🦇
What a tough cookie. Hope she makes it ❤xxx
I'm so anti-fireworks in towns and cities where bat colonies exist. The result here Meg, is a classic example as to why we shouldnt let fireworks off where there are sensitive species in the surroundings.
What i saw in Bendigo, Vic. with the early fireworks was shocking. To see the bats leaving the roost before their usual time and being picked off by crows. I will be following it up with the local wildlife group as well as, Bendigo council shortly.
I hope batty survives.
You are both compassionate souls Meg and Maggie.
💜 💜 🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇
I don't know if the fireworks had anything to do with her accident.
The crows don't pick off the bats; maybe sea eagles or goshawks but not crows. They may attack lone bats in trouble but they won't attack a perfectly well batty.
The bats leave the roost at dusk; the fireworks aren't till after dusk.
Best wishes for Torchbearer 💕🦇
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Fingers crossed 🤞🏻 that Torchbearer continues to improve. Such a lovely old gal she is! I’m so glad the MOP was able to even spot her in that location. TB almost looked to be a part of the tree!
Torchbearer, as Meg says, KOKO. You can do it! Please? ❤🦇❤️
Such a beautiful old girl, poor thing was so spaced out, I wonder if they fell normally or did they get disoriented from the fireworks and celebrations?
I have no idea if the fireworks were responsible, just that she was found on NY day which was the day after the fireworks.
They don't get disoriented from fireworks, in that these bats don't echolocate but navigate by sight.
@@Megabattie I meant disorientation from all the lights and general loudness sorry! My cats used to panic on new years when I lived closer to the city, so I always wondered how birds and bats handled it
Encouraging to see her drink a bit of juice even if it wasn’t especially enthusiastically.
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Poor thing got a.case of.the space.case
I know you claim to have a black thumb, but your balcony garden is looking delightful. All those succulents are perfect for your balcony's microclimate, and the tiles on river gravel are practical and beautiful.
I told my garden if it can't survive with total neglect I will replace it with something which will; or I will leave its skeleton there as a salutary lesson to the others.
The big black trays grow millet for the birds and herbs and whatever else chooses to survive. I have a huge amount of red sorrel because I bought a pot thinking it might be a nice salad green - I didn't like it but the plant survived and thrived and spread. It's pretty though.
I should weed it on the odd occasion but I don't think I could be bothered at the moment.
@@Megabattie 😂Your garden seems to have a neat design. I have absolutely no design or plan. I pull whatever might grow big. Like date palms and banana trees. In summer, I water it regularly to keep it green and whatever grows, grows.
My balcony is just random. There was no real design to it except when I had just moved in. If things die then I don't stress over it except if it's my herbs. I like fresh herbs. I grow millet for the birds, and wheat. The birds like it when I harvest it green so it's soft and sweet. Canola grew last time and they loved that as well. The birds love fresh "grasses" with small seeds.
@@annatanneberger1
😀
Hope she makes it! Thanks for what you do! Could you explain more about this law that if a bat scratches or bites it must be euthanized? I don't really understand
I only know this b/c Meg's mentioned it. It's not a law, it's that the animal's brain must be examined, so euthenasia is required.
We have dog bite laws in California. If an unvaccinated (for rabies) dog bites a human, it has to be quarantined for 2 weeks, and the human has to get the shots. Australia has a lyssa virus which is similar. I do believe they have similar laws for rabies protection (Meg has stressed this several times, with MOPs, and in her videos).
Any updates on her?
I lost track of her since she went to a carer with whom I don't interact. I haven't heard that she has died (I usually do) so I expect she's either in home care, or awaiting time in the release aviary, or is in the release aviary this release cycle. I can't access the release aviary info anymore so I can't check.
Do you call those birds Magpie-Larks?
No, they're magpies.
Magpie larks (peewees) are about half the size.
@@Megabattie Oh! The magpies here (who I've seen in Colorado and Montana) often have some blue, too. I love black and white animals - they are gorgeous! Thanks for feeding them and for responding! :) Bless you and your work!
I like watching them on my balcony and watching as they bring their new chicks to meet me.
Many of them I can feed by hand. @@catiebrooks283
How is the big girl would like to know if she made it
I'm not sure Minton.
I haven't heard anything for a few days and haven't chased it up.
Can't find an update
She went to another carer; she died
@@Megabattie 😥
@@MegabattieDamn.. still better than dying wedged in a tree
@@dudditsdoo Yep.
Oh sweetheart...fireworks are pretty to look at occasionally but I hate them because it scares all the wildlife, makes the dogs here in WV run for their lives and recently, because of idiots, have set several houses on fire! 🥲😇❤️🖤🦇🖤❤️
Our fireworks are only events, not personal fireworks.
Fireworks aren't sold to the public here.
@Megabattie as both a nurse and a homeowner...I truly wish they were illegal here. In Pittsburgh, many boroughs in Allegheny County have outlawed them. Here in WV...the neighboring town called Nutter Fort forbids them unless it's an event. I live in the next town called Stonewood...my neighbor 2 doors downs sets them off every year....and although an expense for them...they almost set a modular home roof on fire this past year. I videotaped it in case. 😢
@@Megabattie, A bunch just went off now, and, aside from municipal and theme park controlled displays, they aren’t legal here. People smuggle them in from other states or from Mexico. 😢
My dogs don’t like them at all.