An Australia Post worker has been praised for a quick-thinking and life-saving decision made while out on a delivery route this week.
The postie, called Wayne, was delivering letters and parcels across the suburb of Melton South, on the outskirts of Melbourne, on Thursday when he spotted a grey-headed flying fox on the ground on the side of the road.
On closer inspection, he realised not only was it dead, but a tiny baby was clinging onto its lifeless mother, requiring urgent attention. It’s suspected that the mum was electrocuted to death after coming into contact with powerlines above where she was found.
Instead of attempting to handle the vulnerable baby bat, which can be dangerous, he covered the pair with a sturdy box and taped a note to it.
“Please do not lift or take, injured bat under the tub,” he wrote on the box, telling passers by that a wildlife rescue group would be by to pick it up.
“Wayne made the call to Wildlife Victoria,” a spokesperson for JABS Joey and Bat Sanctuary told Yahoo News.
While he waited an hour for a rescuer to arrive to collect the baby bat, he periodically popped past to check on it.
The baby bat was found clinging to its dead mum on the side of the road. Source: JABS Joey and Bat Sanctuary
Aussie praised for his ‘amazing’ rescue efforts
His life-saving actions have now been praised by the JABS Joey and Bat Sanctuary. “We need more people like Wayne,” the spokesperson said.
Aussies came out in droves to echo the wildlife group’s sentiment, thanking Wayne for his “amazing” efforts and describing him as a “sweetheart”.
Even Australia Post told Yahoo News they were “proud” of their Postie.
“Our team members are part of the communities they serve, and it’s not unusual for them to lend a helping hand when someone – or something – needs it,” an Australia Post spokesperson told Yahoo.
“We’re proud of our Postie for taking the time to make sure the little bat got the care it needed.”
Incredibly, the tiny bat has now been named “Little Wayne” in honour of its rescuer.
Important warning about handling bats
Wayne’s actions highlight an important message that those who come across sick or injured bats should not handle them, and instead place a basket or a box over the bat as the postie did.
While rabies is not present in Australia, a small percentage of bats can carry the lyssavirus. Anyone bitten by a fruit bat is urged to seek medical attention immediately. Once symptoms develop, there is no treatment available.
Earlier this year, an Australian man died after he was bitten by a bat. NSW Health confirmed he had contracted NSW’s first recorded case of Australian bat lyssavirus.
“There is a small but real chance that they can have lyssavirus,” Rhiannon Traish-Walker, President of Bats QLD, previously told Yahoo, adding it is a “silent disease until you develop symptoms” and after that, it’s “too late”.
“It’s a simple case of if you’re bitten, go to hospital to get those vaccinations. We have a simple rule of no touch, no risk,”
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