The bat-tornado was so intense that the local hospital’s air ambulance was grounded as they made it impossible to fly in Ingham, Australia
Thousands of bats have taken over a town with residents afraid to leave home or take their children to school.
The ‘bat-tornado’ was so intense that the local hospital’s air ambulance was grounded as they made it impossible to fly.
The flying animals have taken over the town of Ingham in North Queensland, but they are a protected species so very little can be done.
Mayor of Hinchinbrook Council Raymon Jayo told news magazine show A Current Affair: “It just seems to me that every bat in Australia is now in Ingham.
“There’s four different species and because they all have young at different times, there’s hardly a window of opportunity when we can interact with these bats to try and move them on.”
But outspoken local politician Bob Katter told the program if it was up to him, he’s “be down here with a shotgun”.
He said: “There comes a point where I think not breaking the law really becomes ‘dogging it,’ as we say in North Queensland.
“And I think that point has probably been reached.”
President of the Ingham’s Chamber of Commerce, Rachael Coco, added: “If this was happening at parliament house, somebody would have come up with a solution by now.”He added that that tourism in the area has taken a dramatic hit since the bats arrived.
Trees around one primary school are full of the upside down fruit bats, with many parents refusing to send their children to school until they are gone.
Mum Susanne Kaurila added: “They’re not stepping a foot in that ground until something is being done.”
