Christmas Island's Chonky Bat: One Cyclone from History Lessons
Meet the Christmas Island flying fox: Australia's fluffiest mammal and its last native mammal hope, currently critically endangered and adorably described as 'incredibly cute and fluffy.' But oh dear, this chonky flyer is one cyclone away from extinction, facing grave dangers with absolutely no recovery plan and conservation advice so outdated it might as well be faxed from 1995. Scientists are definitely worried, but hey, why rush the paperwork when you've got a flying teddy bear at risk? Meanwhile, islanders watch as their plush airborne pal teeters on a knife's edge, proving cute alone won't save species without some 21st-century action.
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Nothing screams urgency like a 'chonky' flying fox being one cyclone away from wiping out because apparently, telling cuddly animals to 'hope for the best' is the latest conservation strategy.
Critically endangered and dangerously cute isnât a great look for the Christmas Island flying foxâwho knew fluffiness wouldnât pay the bills or update conservation plans?
One cyclone from extinction? Sounds like Mother Natureâs version of a reality show where the prize is 'Who Survives Because No One Made a Plan'.
Source: Theguardian | Published: 9/15/2025 | Author: Nick Visser and Nino Bucci
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