10th July 2026
In the wake of the Black Summer Bushfires, WIRES made a strategic decision for the future of wildlife care by investing more heavily in wildlife research. In addition to the development of the Research Grants Program in 2022, WIRES supported a number of larger scale research initiatives aimed at strengthening rescue, rehabilitation and conservation outcomes through evidence-based research.
By supporting a number of innovative projects that address emerging threats, WIRES objective is to fill critical knowledge gaps and translate science directly into frontline wildlife care. Now, WIRES is able to reflect on and report the impact of this investment - and the real-world difference these projects are making for wildlife and the people who care for them.
One project, led by researchers at Macquarie University in collaboration with WIRES volunteers and carers, Bacterial pathogens and antibiotic resistance in juvenile Grey Headed Flying Foxes: Implications for flying fox health and in-care management, has uncovered a concerning but vital insight: human-associated “superbugs” spreading into vulnerable flying-fox populations, with potential consequences for both animal and human health.
Understanding the Problem: Superbugs in Flying-foxes
Each summer, thousands of baby flying-foxes are brought into care after being orphaned by heat stress events, habitat loss and other environmental pressures. These young animals are incredibly vulnerable, and caring for them requires making every effort to protect their fragile health.
In this study, researchers collected over 570 samples from orphaned grey-headed flying-fox pups - a species listed as vulnerable - and made a startling discovery: almost one in three carried E. coli strains resistant to commonly used antibiotics, and around one in ten harboured bacteria that were resistant multiple drugs. Genomic sequencing suggests many of these strains originated in humans or domestic animals.
The research findings highlight an underappreciated and under investigated pathway of risk: microbial pollution in the environment, likely transmitted via contaminated water, feeding into wildlife infections.
From Research to Real-World Action
The strength of this partnership lies not just in identifying the issue but in turning scientific insight into practical solutions that protect both wildlife and the dedicated carers who work with them.
A Broader Perspective: One Health in Action
This research reinforces a concept that’s core to modern environmental and health science: One Health - the idea that human, animal and environmental health are deeply interconnected. When antibiotic resistance spreads from human-affected environmental systems into wildlife, it underlines how closely our wellbeing is tied to the health of the ecosystems we share.
By championing antimicrobial stewardship within the wildlife sector, this project is helping to protect both animals and people - locally and globally.