Secret indigenous wisdom.

[V8Ian]

Whilst out on a bike ride yesterday, I stopped at Spring Bluff. An Aboriginal fellow, there with his family, called us over to see a tree snake catch and eat a frog. He said "That snake just went down to the water, grabbed the frog and walked up there to eat it." :D:D:D

I couldn't resist, I had to give him a razz for that. It was taken in good humour, as it was offered. Ended up having an interesting chat with my new bush tucker friend, thanks Jack.

A few minutes later, Jack's grandson snuck up behind him and brushed his calf with a branch. Jack leapt six feet, vertically. :D

[Chops]

haha,, been there with the branch trick :D

Its a good way to find out about things when your out and about like that. Travelling, even though just a ride for a day, (lucky you :cool:), is what it's all about, when you get to meet the locals.

[cafe latte]

Years ago during my masters degree I was at Chester zoo in the bat house. One of the girls on the course was terrified of bats (The bat house is open with double doors so you walk among the bats). It was raining outside so I had my long umbrella... I coudnt resist it in the semi dark I raised the tip of my umbrella and gently poked her curly her from behind :D:D What came next is her running screaming trying to get the non existing bat out of her hair. I got such a slap when she found out it was just me larking about, eventually she saw the funny side.
Chris

[DiscoMick]

We've done bat rescue of orphaned babies. They're actually quite intelligent. For example, ours made a different sound when each person in our family walked into the room. If looked after properly they will keep themselves fastidiously clean and don't smell. Ours also loved watching TV - the colours I guess. Our daughter used to teach the babies to fly by hanging them on the rotary clothes line and spinning it, so they would extend their wings and flap. We have had the vaccinations, but apparently many if not most don't actually carry the lyssavirus. There are a lot of myths around about bats, fanned by TV rubbish. Bats are very important for native plants. It would be great if people outgrew their irrational fears of native wildlife, particularly bats, snakes and spiders.

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[cafe latte]

We've done bat rescue of orphaned babies. They're actually quite intelligent. For example, ours made a different sound when each person in our family walked into the room. If looked after properly they will keep themselves fastidiously clean and don't smell. Ours also loved watching TV - the colours I guess. Our daughter used to teach the babies to fly by hanging them on the rotary clothes line and spinning it, so they would extend their wings and flap. We have had the vaccinations, but apparently many if not most don't actually carry the lyssavirus. There are a lot of myths around about bats, fanned by TV rubbish. Bats are very important for native plants. It would be great if people outgrew their irrational fears of native wildlife, particularly bats, snakes and spiders.

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My masters was 1998, I wonder if you can still go in with the bats at Chester zoo? You mention disease I wonder if the do gooders have stopped it by now?
Chris

[scarry]

When i was a kid,we had heaps of orphaned bats as well,used to feed them with a babies bottle when they were very young and then gradually wean them.The fruit bats could often get very messy,particularly if they were sick.As disco mick said,when healthy they were fine.

I found the insect eating bats more interesting,we used to breed meal worms for them.They didn't have the character of the fruit bats,and if they were not healthy they would not survive the hibernation period of winter.We used to catch insects every night around the fluro lights for them,supplementing the meal worms.

[bob10]

When i was a kid,we had heaps of orphaned bats as well,used to feed them with a babies bottle when they were very young and then gradually wean them.The fruit bats could often get very messy,particularly if they were sick.As disco mick said,when healthy they were fine.

I found the insect eating bats more interesting,we used to breed meal worms for them.They didn't have the character of the fruit bats,and if they were not healthy they would not survive the hibernation period of winter.We used to catch insects every night around the fluro lights for them,supplementing the meal worms.

Any one handling bats should be fully vaccinated. Just as a precaution. The chances of catching Hendra disease or lyssavirus are rare.

https://www.ehp.qld.gov.au/wildlife/livingwith/flyingfoxes/viruses.html

[bob10]

Just my 2 bobs worth of indigenous wisdom, whilst in the territory, a grey haired gentleman with tribal scars on his chest told me not to camp anywhere near flying fox roosts in the bush, near a water course. Top crocodile tucker, he said. The crocs will walk a distance to get to them. At night, the crocs push on the tree with their front feet, the bats that fall out, supper. Also, don't hurt the fruit bat, he could be related.

https://www.ehp.qld.gov.au/wildlife/livingwith/flyingfoxes/importance.html

[DiscoMick]

Any one handling bats should be fully vaccinated. Just as a precaution. The chances of catching Hendra disease or lyssavirus are rare.

https://www.ehp.qld.gov.au/wildlife/livingwith/flyingfoxes/viruses.html

Yep, its a legal requirement. Been there, done that, so now I can tell people I have rabies, which always raises eyebrows. I've had so many vaccinations in my life I reckon I shouldn't get sick. Even vaccinated against elephantitis.

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[scarry]

Any one handling bats should be fully vaccinated. Just as a precaution. The chances of catching Hendra disease or lyssavirus are rare.

https://www.ehp.qld.gov.au/wildlife/livingwith/flyingfoxes/viruses.html

Back in the day(40 yrs ago approx),there was no mention of any viruses,whether they were around,who knows?

My guess is they were around,but not detected.

As others have said,being near bats today is a completely different issue,governed by regulations.

A mate of mine had a pet greyhound that caught a fruit bat a good few months ago.The bat was either sick or injured.The dog caught the virus and died very quickly.

Then there was all the paperwork to do.

[DiscoMick]

My BIL the government vet has treated many horses with Hendra virus and also did the mad cow and bird flu outbreaks. He's regularly seen on TV disguised in the full moon suit. He's had every vaccination you can imagine. He thinks people who refuse to be vaccinated are ignorant fools.

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