White Nose Syndrome vs Australian Bats - Dr Nicholas Wu and Mr Tomás Villada-Cadavid​

Public Thought Leadership Event

White-nose syndrome (WNS) is a devastating wildlife disease that has killed millions of insectivorous bats in North America since 2006, when the causal fungal pathogen Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd) was first detected. Australian bats might soon face exposure to this potentially catastrophic fungal disease. Limited initial screening indicates the fungus is not currently in Australia. However, a Commonwealth-initiated expert risk assessment has concluded it is ‘almost certain’ that Pd will be inadvertently introduced into an Australian cave within the next ten years.

Dr Nicholas Wu and Mr Tomás Villada-Cadavid​ discuss thier research which aims to understand, prepare for, and respond to the imminent threat posed by WNS to Australia’s bat fauna. Learn what you can do to also protect Australian bats, and how to respond if you come across a potentially infected animal.