The Location:
In northeast Australia, an hour’s drive inland from Cairns lie the Atherton Tablelands. Home to World Heritage-listed rainforests, national parks, mountains, rivers, lakes and waterfalls, these tropical tablelands have no shortage of inspiring places to explore. The local area has much to offer the nature-oriented person. With its cool, fresh air, verdant countryside and relaxed atmosphere, the Tablelands represent Australian countryside at its very best.

The Situation:
Though this rural community charms visitors, development has taken a devastating toll on some of its most vital species. In 1990, conservationists discovered tick paralysis in the local Spectacled Flying Fox species.The paralysis tick injects a powerful neurotoxin into the bats, and without early treatment these bats will die. The females have their young at the same time of the year, so there are usually many orphans—sometimes as many as 300.

Flying foxes are deeply linked to their ecosystem. They regenerate native forests by pollinating as they feed and disperse seeds as they move throughout the forest. Without intervention from conservation groups, the flying fox species in Australia—and the ecosystems that depend on them—may not survive.

What’s Being Done:
The Bat Rescue Project offers solutions to this dilemma, and your work as a volunteer is vital. Under the supervision of an experienced bat care professional, you’ll get the chance to care for baby flying foxes with infant bottles and through various other methods, care for sick and paralyzed bats, and scour the rainforest floor to rescue fallen baby bats. You’ll also help with a variety of other projects such as habitat restoration and bat research. Your efforts in Australia will not only help maintain this amazing species, but also the land that depends on the bats for its survival.

Airport and Orientation:
Your transport after arrival at the Cairns airport will be coordinated by our partner organization. In most situations a representative will meet volunteers at the airport and take you catch a bus. The bus to Atherton is about two hours. Upon arrival, your project coordinator will meet you and take you to the project site five minutes away. There you will receive an orientation about your duties and responsibilities as a volunteer.

Transportation:
Volunteer Adventures will arrange transportation for the following:
Airport pickup and drop-off at the Cairns airport
Transportation to the project site in the Atherton Tablelands

You will stay on-site at the guesthouse, a quiet apartment located on the project grounds. The bedrooms have two single beds and a trundle bed that can be pulled out for a third person. The kitchen includes an oven and a microwave. The house also has a television. There are separate rooms for males.

Accommodations:
You will stay on-site at the guesthouse, a quiet apartment located on the project grounds. The bedrooms have two single beds and a trundle bed that can be pulled out for a third person. The kitchen includes an oven and a microwave. The house also has a television. There are separate rooms for males and females.

In-Country Support:
We work directly with the project to provide support during your time in Australia. You can expect help from your project coordinator, who lives on-site and other volunteers. We also provide 24-hour cell phone numbers both in Australia and in the U.S. for emergencies.

Additional Activities and Excursions:
The bat hospital is located about four miles from Atherton, a town of approximately 5,800, and someone drives to town daily. Some local free time excursions include:

A lovely walk into the rainforest from the hospital
Swimming
Walks in the surrounding countryside
Visits to country markets
Watching movies in a nearby town
Hikes
Rides in a hot air balloon

To enjoy the outlying areas in the Atherton Tablelands, volunteers will need to rent a car in Atherton. All towns throughout the Tablelands have their own special attractions: