Queensland has four native species of flying foxes - grey-headed, black, little red and spectacled.

Although Hendra virus can be transmitted from horses to humans, there is no evidence that it can be transmitted directly from flying foxes to humans.

Flying foxes are a natural reservoir for Hendra virus. Flying foxes do not show any signs of illness when infected with Hendra virus.

Infection is periodically present in flying fox populations across Australia. The exact route of transmission of Hendra virus from flying foxes to horses is not yet fully understood.

The virus has been detected in the blood, urine, faeces, placental material, aborted foetuses and birthing fluids of flying foxes.

Ongoing research is continually increasing our knowledge about this disease.

Control of flying foxes

Although Hendra virus infection occurs naturally in flying foxes, these animals should not be targeted for culling.

Flying foxes are protected species and are critical to our environment, as they pollinate our native trees and spread seeds. Without flying foxes, we wouldn't have our eucalypt forests, rainforests and melaleucas.

Any unauthorised attempt to disturb flying fox colonies is illegal. Disturbing flying fox colonies to reduce the risk of Hendra virus transmission to horses is ineffective because:

• flying foxes are widespread in Australia and are highly mobile
• there are more effective steps people can take to reduce the risk of Hendra virus infection in horses and in people
• attempts to disturb or cull flying foxes could worsen the problem by stressing them and potentially causing Hendra virus excretion.

Flying foxes and trees

Flying foxes prefer nectar and pollen from eucalypts, melaleucas and banksias, however are attracted to a broad range of flowering and fruiting trees, and vegetation, as a food source.

Some examples of the trees and vegetation on Queensland properties where Hendra virus in horses has occurred include:

• a range of fig trees (including the Moreton Bay fig tree)
• melaleucas (including paperbarks)
• eucalypts
• wattles
• passionfruit vines.

Other trees that may attract flying foxes include flowering or fruiting trees with soft fruits and stonefruits (such as mangoes and papaws), palms, lilly-pillies and grevilleas.

Please note this is not an exhaustive list of trees that attract flying foxes. This will vary with the geographical area. You should identify the trees on your property that attract flying foxes to help you manage your horses.

See more information on living with flying foxes (PDF, 340 kB).

Tracking flying foxes

In an Australian first, Queensland scientists are fitting flying foxes with GPS data loggers to find out where they're going and what they're doing.

We can use the information from the GPS data loggers to determine whether a flying fox is feeding, sleeping or flying, and where it is flying to.

This information helps us build an understanding of flying fox movement between colonies, which in turn helps modelling when analysing the spread of Hendra virus among flying fox populations.

Flying foxes and Hendra virus videos

• Watch a video of Dr Hume Field, Principal Scientist, Biosecurity Queensland fitting a flying fox with a GPS data logger for the first time in Australia.
• Watch a video of the expert panel who came together on Friday 23 September 2011 to address the myths and clarify the facts around flying foxes and Hendra virus.

For more information about flying foxes, see the Department of Environment and Resource Management website or call them on 1300 130 372.