It ’s been hot as hell in Australia over the past weekend . While beachgoers and air - con salesman are rejoicing , the fierce summer heat has been   ruinous on the state ’s   population of gray - head flight foxes .

Over 700 of these gargantuan bat have perished in division of South Australia and New South Wales , according toWildlife Aid Inc. One of the worst unnatural area is Singleton in New South Wales , wheretemperatures reacheda dizzy 47 ° C ( 116 ° F ) over the weekend . The exact number of death is n’t yet known , but the physique is expected to lift .

These die - offs have depart wildlife officials with the grisly business of clearing up the 100 of bodies , some of which are still eerily hanging upside - down from trees ( video below ) .

Part of the job is that these fly fox have been displace from their normal habitat . Over the past few decades , there have been more and more more sightings in suburban and build - up areas , where there ’s less natural shade . An   deterrent example of this came last year when thesleepy townsfolk of Batemans Bay in New South Wales wasoverrun with hundred of thousandsof these chaos - causing squash racquet .

" To a sure grade it is a natural event , however they ’re not in a lifelike environment due to human disturbance , " Jaala Preslan , a Wildlife Aid Inc bat coordinator , toldAustralia 9News . " In a normal camp you ’d have canopies and they ’d be able to get down low . "

Grey - lead flying foxes ( Pteropuspoliocephalus ) are a metal money of megabat with a wingspan of around 1 cadence ( 3.3 foot ) . Although native to the east coast of Australia , they ’re bit by bit shifting westwards . The creatures   play a crucial role in the pollenation and dispersal of seeds for many blossoming plant and trees . However , since the creature   isconsidered vulnerable , the situation is concerning for conservationists and environmentalists alike .

They also carry many deadly human diseases , including the Hendra virus and the hydrophobia - like Australian squash racquet lyssavirus , so the great unwashed are being asked not to touch them unless they know what they are doing .

Fortunately for the bat , conservationists , and thousands of sweaty Australians , the vesicate temperatures are expected to ease up this week .