In Australia, thousands of flying foxes have died due to the "black heat"

Recent events in Australia have led to the mass death of flying foxes, including rare species, as a result of extremely high temperatures known as "black heat," reports The Guardian.

According to Tamsin Hogarth, director of a clinic studying bats, between 1,000 and 2,000 individuals died in South Australia, thousands in Victoria, and about 1,000 in New South Wales.

She also noted that only a few dozen pups survived, found by volunteers clinging tightly to their dead mothers.

“We found many adult foxes that could not withstand the heat in the hottest parts of the colonies, such as trees with insufficient foliage and shade, as well as the scorched ground along the river,” Hogarth added.

This incident is the largest since 2018 when over 70,000 flying foxes died. According to the publication, temperatures in the region reached 40-45°C for several days.