Drone Shows for Australia Day in Canberra Postponed to Protect Endangered Bats
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Synopsis
The drone shows in Canberra for Australia Day have been rescheduled to protect threatened grey-headed flying foxes. The display will feature 600 drones celebrating Australia's native wildlife and history.
Key Takeaways
- Drone shows delayed to safeguard vulnerable bats.
- Approximately 2,500 grey-headed flying foxes reside in Canberra.
- The first show in 2024 was postponed due to bats in the air.
- Future shows will be held later at night to ensure safety.
- Australia Day is celebrated on January 26.
Canberra, Jan 24 (NationPress) The scheduled drone displays for Australia Day festivities in the capital city have been rescheduled to avoid posing a threat to a vulnerable population of bats.
The group of approximately 2,500 grey-headed flying foxes, which are classified as a vulnerable species by the federal government, reside in Canberra's Commonwealth Park along the banks of Lake Burley Griffin from October through June.
Each evening around 8:45 pm local time, the bats take flight in large numbers to forage for fruit.
This nightly spectacle has led officials to postpone the drone events over the lake out of concern for the bats' safety.
The inaugural show in 2024 was delayed from its original start time of 8:30 pm local time due to an excessive number of flying foxes in the vicinity.
ACT Wildlife has expressed concerns that a high volume of drones in the flight path of the bats could potentially be hazardous.
Stephen Barton from ACT Wildlife informed the Australian Broadcasting Corporation on Friday that attendees had witnessed flying foxes colliding with drones during the 2024 events, though no bats were harmed.
As a safety measure, the shows in 2025 are scheduled to begin at 9 pm and 10 pm nightly from Friday through Sunday, according to reports from the Xinhua news agency.
Each display will feature 600 drones showcasing unique designs that celebrate Australia's native wildlife, flora, and history.
Australia Day is observed annually on January 26 to commemorate the anniversary of the 1788 arrival of the British First Fleet at Sydney Cove.
