A $10,000 irrigation system at the Warrnambool Botanic Gardens would help protect the flying fox colony which frequents it, according to Animal Justice Party MP Andy Meddick.
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He visited the site on Thursday and spoke to curator John Sheely about the best way to help protect the mammals on hot days.
"Flying foxes, like all bats, are very heat sensitive," Mr Meddick said. "Their core temperature can be affected very dramatically in a very short space of time.
"They can go from coping quite well to a life or death situation within a few minutes."
Mr Meddick has asked the state government to provide $10,000 to install the system to protect them.
Initially he had suggested a misting system, but Mr Sheely said their plan was for an irrigation system to reduce the temperature of the area the flying foxes frequent.
The gardens are frequented by a colony of about 3000 flying foxes, which roost in a number of trees year-round.
Mr Meddick said a number of flying foxes were protected species and they had an important role to play for the environment.
"They are amazing pollinators," he said.
"They not only play a major role in the propagation of fruit trees - they are also seed-carriers for larger trees and other plants."
Mr Meddick said there were a number of flying fox colonies in parts of the state ravaged by bushfire.
"We don't yet know the impact of those fires on those colonies but we think it's going to be substantial because we know they don't cope with heat," he said.
"We know roughly a billion animals have been killed in those fires, which makes it even more important to protect these species."
In addition to that, Mr Meddick said drought conditions and climate change would likely result in a rise in the number of hot days.
He is also calling for a sprinkler system to be installed at the Colac botanic gardens, which is frequented by a colony of between 3000 and 5000 flying foxes.
Mr Meddick said he hopes the systems will be installed at both locations before the summer months.
He said initial discussions about the funds had been positive.
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