Hundreds of flying foxes and rainbow parrots have fallen from the sky affected by a mysterious illness.
The animals were discovered across a wide area of southeast Queensland and northern New South Wales last month, paralyzed or dead.
Experts have called the phenomenon parrot paralysis syndrome (LPS) and flying fox paralysis syndrome (FFPS), but little is known about its causes.
Scientists have discovered that the phenomenon seems to occur more in summer and believe that an environmental toxin could be responsible, since both species share the same diet of pollen and fruits.
Groups involved in tracking the two populations said it is the worst they have seen in “five years” and that it is spreading rapidly.
Gold-Coast Rehabilitation Service Bats QLD described the recent surge as a “wildlife crisis” and said it was taking a toll on volunteers’ mental health.
“Something is terribly wrong and we are doing everything we can to help the animals we can help,” the service wrote in a Facebook post.
“For the rest, the best we can do is ensure a quick and painless death to put them out of their misery.”
Environmental campaigners have raised the alarm over a possible “wildlife crisis” after hundreds of rainbow parrots and flying foxes were found dead with a mystery illness (file image)
Parrots with the disease show signs of paralysis, voice changes, and have difficulty standing, blinking, or swallowing.
Bats are also paralyzed by the disease and can be found with protruding tongues and difficulty swallowing and breathing.
Bats QLD volunteers have reported finding flying foxes paralyzed in the water for so long their “skin is literally coming off” and infected with maggots while they were still alive.
‘Can you imagine the pain, the fear? “It’s literally a living nightmare,” the post reads.
The group has called for more resources from government departments to investigate the causes of seasonal deaths.
“We are already tired of continually calling government departments for help and trying to figure out what is causing this,” they wrote.
“This problem is not going away, it is increasing and with each passing hour we are more desperate.”
Research from the University of Sydney did not reveal that any “infectious agent or artificial toxin” was the cause of LPS.
The animals were found dead or on the verge of death (pictured) after being paralyzed by the disease, with the cause of the disease still unknown.
While no direct cause can be found, research suggests the parrot’s illness could be due to “ingestion of a toxic plant” in the area.
“The seasonality of the disease suggests a period of flowering and fruiting of the toxic plant that occurs between October and June,” reads the University website.
“The distribution of lorikeet locations is not random, suggesting that if a toxic plant is the cause of LPS, the plant is found in some areas but not others.”
Bats QLD president Rhiannon Traish-Walker said the disease is not a death sentence and volunteers rely on citizens to report any incidents to increase their chances of survival.
“It is vital to encourage people to call a lifeguard as soon as they see a bat alone during the day or close to the ground,” Ms Traish-Walker said. yahoo.
“The sooner we can get to them, the better their chances of survival.”