The harsh interior of Australia affords little luxury for our wildlife when it comes to hydration. While their coastal cousins may be able to take their pick of watering holes, these Little Red Flying-foxes do not hold such privilege. Wooded watercourses run like arteries through the arid lands of the north, providing a precious lifeline to the species that call these places home. As the smallest of our mainland flying-foxes, Little Reds travel in large numbers—sometimes gathering in camps of many thousands. They follow the flowering of eucalypts and paperbarks across inland Australia, covering huge distances in search of nectar. On hot days, they’ll dip low over rivers and creeks, skimming the surface to scoop up water with their belly fur before flying off to lick it clean. It’s a delicate dance between survival and heat, played out in a landscape that gives nothing away easily.
The harsh interior of Australia affords little luxury for our wildlife when it comes to hydration. While their coastal cousins may be able to take their pick of watering holes, these Little Red Flying-foxes do not hold such privilege. Wooded watercourses run like arteries through the arid lands of the north, providing a precious lifeline to the species that call these places home. As the smallest of our mainland flying-foxes, Little Reds travel in large numbers—sometimes gathering in camps of many thousands. They follow the flowering of eucalypts and paperbarks across inland Australia, covering huge distances in search of nectar. On hot days, they’ll dip low over rivers and creeks, skimming the surface to scoop up water with their belly fur before flying off to lick it clean. It’s a delicate dance between survival and heat, played out in a landscape that gives nothing away easily.
