The Secret Life of Richard Morecroft: Caring for a Baby Flying Fox

A lesser-known side of veteran news presenter Richard Morecroft has been revealed, showcasing his compassionate and adventurous spirit. Before his recent passing at the age of 70, Morecroft had a unique experience that few of his viewers were aware of.

During his time as a news anchor, Morecroft would sometimes have a special companion with him at the desk. In late 1987, he fostered a baby grey-headed flying fox named Archie, who was just two weeks old at the time. Morecroft had completed a Wildlife Information and Rescue Service (WIRES) training course, which led to him caring for the young bat.

A Journey of Care and Education

Morecroft thought Archie was a boy when he first started caring for him. He kept the pup warm by wrapping him in a handkerchief and tucked him inside his shirt while presenting news bulletins.

"I think probably of its species, that little flying fox ... was probably the best educated in terms of knowledge of news and current affairs," he said in late December, 2001.

"Thousands of people watching at home wouldn't have known that there was a small furry animal wrapped in a handkerchief stuffed inside my shirt."

Morecroft and Archie's journey together was documented in a 30-minute Wildscreen episode titled Raising Archie. The program showed the presenter caring for the young bat, from feeding and grooming to eventually encouraging him to fly.

"This is a young grey-headed flying fox which came from a colony not very far from Sydney," he explained during the program.

"His mother died and so I'm the new foster parent for a few months. What we're hoping is that eventually he will be able to rejoin the colony and get back into the wild."

The Challenges and Rewards of Caring for a Flying Fox

Morecroft shared his experiences of caring for Archie in a letter to his trainer in November 1987. He wrote about the challenges and joys of raising the young bat, including the need for regular feeding, grooming, and exercise.

"It's been a delight (and occasionally quite a challenge) to have the opportunity to raise a young flying fox," he wrote.

"According to weight and forearm measurements (90 grams and 60 millimetres) a couple of days after receiving her, she must have been very young when orphaned."

John George, whose late wife Helen trained hundreds of people to care for native animals, including Morecroft, remembered the presenter's commitment to caring for Archie.

"She loved it, loved him and she could rely on him totally," he said.

The Evolution of Caring for Bats

WIRES bat unit coordinator Storm Stanford noted that the approach to caring for bats has changed over time. Nowadays, bats do not stay with carers as long, and incubators are used for warmth to reduce disease risks.

"Back when Richard was doing it, we didn't know about lyssavirus or, I think it just came in the year after or a few months after he was doing the caring," Ms Stanford said.

Archie was eventually sent to a creche to socialize with other bats before being released back into the colony. Morecroft passed away earlier this week after being diagnosed with cancer earlier this year.