Husbandry Manual for Grey- Headed Flying Fox - Nswfmpa.org

When animals are first placed within a dirt floor enclosure they should be monitored to
ensure they are not ingesting the substrate materials.
A wide strip of copper sheeting around the base of the enclosure to a height of 20cms
will prevent slugs from crawling through the wire mesh. This will also deter rodents as
they are unable to crawl up the slippery surface.
4.8 Enclosure Furnishings
In considering GHFF roosting patterns, the introduction of new cage furniture (and
relocation of existing furniture within the enclosure) should be carefully considered to
avoid undue stress to the occupants.
At the same time, it is important to
enhance the FF’s environment with
variants, such as additional
branches, fragrances, etc to
simulate inconsistencies
encountered in a natural
environment.
To encourage flight exercise, the
enclosures should be uncluttered.
However, the placement of soft
furnishings such as ropes, towels and
hessian sacks will encourage the FF’s
to fly from one item to another.
As anybody who has visited a flying fox colony will attest, FF’s arrive in great numbers
and prefer to roost within a tree heavy with foliage. Cleave (1999) notes:
“… the accumulation of their acidic droppings can kill off the
foliage, making the bats rather conspicuous. They will
eventually seek another, more secure roosting tree” (p66).
As the FF does not generally eat a lot of foliage, but merely uses it
for camouflage and the occasional tidbit, left over or uneaten
browse can be placed in the exhibit as it is removed from other
exhibits.
Incorporation of a leaf canopy may impair
visibility of the animals, however, if carefully placed, the canopy
can allow clear visibility from the side or underneath, providing
good cover overhead. Movement of the animal will be increased,
as animals are forced to navigate their way amongst leaves and
up and down branches, rather than merely traversing a wire cage
roof. Before placement within the enclosure, care must be taken
to remove any sharp edges, sticks or burrs to minimise risk of
wing membrane damage.
Keeper obstruction for cleaning is negligible as the canopy is at
the top of the enclosure, rather than at ground level.
Husbandry Manual – GHFF
Mandi Griffith - 21 -