A mystery disease is wiping out large numbers of the native little red flying fox from the skies of Katherine town in the Northern Territory of Australia. Scientists are yet to identify the exact reason behind the declining number of the mammal in the past 10 months, but fear a roundworm or a viral infestation. Farmers and other residents of the town consider flying fox a pest. But according to scientists, the mammal is of a huge ecological benefit because it serves as pollinators and seed distributors. The scientists warn that the ecosystem will be severely affected if the population of the mammal dips by more than 50 per cent.
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