Researchers from Macquarie University are collaborating with WIRES, Australia’s largest wildlife rescue organization, to enhance biosecurity measures for flying foxes. This initiative follows alarming findings that antibiotic-resistant “superbugs” originating from humans are making their way into vulnerable wildlife populations.
Every summer, thousands of baby flying foxes are rescued across Australia due to heat stress, habitat loss, and other human-induced impacts that leave them orphaned. Volunteers dedicate months to hand-feeding these animals, but new research reveals that environmental pollution might be exposing them to antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
The partnership between Macquarie University scientists and WIRES has revealed concerning levels of resistance among rescued pups and has developed practical solutions to protect both wildlife and their carers from infection. “The bacteria we’re finding in these animals evolved in humans or domestic animals,” explains Dr. Fiona McDougall, a Research Fellow at Macquarie’s School of Natural Sciences. “It’s confronting to realize that we’re effectively polluting the environment with microbes that then spill over into wildlife.”
Tracking Superbugs from People to Flying Foxes
The study concentrated on the grey-headed flying fox, a crucial native pollinator now listed as vulnerable. Over two and a half years, researchers collected more than 570 samples from orphaned flying fox pups in care. They discovered that nearly one in three pups carried E. coli strains resistant to common antibiotics, and about one in ten harbored bacteria unresponsive to multiple drugs. Genomic sequencing revealed that many of these strains closely match those found in human infections.
The contamination pathway likely begins with water tainted by human or animal waste. Adult flying foxes engage in a behavior known as ‘belly-dipping’ to drink, skimming the water surface and licking water off their fur, while their babies cling to them, directly exposing the pups to any bacteria present in the water. “For the first few weeks of life, these pups rely entirely on their mothers, so if the water is contaminated, they’re infected early,” Dr. McDougall notes. “Their gut bacteria are still developing, which makes them especially vulnerable.”
In one tragic incident, a pup in care succumbed to sepsis linked to multidrug-resistant bacteria, underscoring the severe consequences of antimicrobial resistance.
Protecting Wildlife – and Their Carers
The collaboration has resulted in new biosecurity guidelines for wildlife rehabilitation. These include straightforward yet effective measures such as wearing masks while cleaning cages, washing hands between handling animals, using separate equipment for each enclosure, and keeping domestic pets away from wildlife.
“Wildlife carers give extraordinary amounts of their time, energy, and even their homes to these animals,” says Professor Michelle Power, who leads Macquarie’s Wildlife Health and Disease team. “Our goal is to make their work safer and more effective, using evidence-based strategies that can be applied globally.”
Professor Power highlights that antibiotic overuse in humans, pets, and even wildlife care is driving resistance, giving harmful bacteria an evolutionary edge. Establishing antimicrobial stewardship in the wildlife sector is crucial to protecting both animals and people.
A Global Model for ‘One Health’
The findings reinforce the World Health Organization’s One Health principle, which emphasizes the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health. By identifying how human-origin superbugs spread into wildlife populations, the Macquarie-WIRES partnership is helping to close the loop of infection.
“This is a global issue,” Professor Power asserts. “Wildlife rehabilitation happens everywhere – and the lessons we’re learning here in Australia can inform international best practice.”
Training workshops for carers and veterinarians are now planned, focusing on biosecurity and responsible antibiotic use. The researchers hope their work will inspire similar collaborations worldwide, uniting scientists and volunteers in protecting the planet’s most vulnerable species.
“Caring for wildlife is an act of compassion,” Dr. McDougall concludes. “Our research shows it’s also part of safeguarding global health.”
Dr. Fiona McDougall and Professor Michelle Power are affiliated with the School of Natural Sciences in the Faculty of Science and Engineering at Macquarie University.
