Cuter Than You Think: Conservationist Fosters Baby Fruit Bats at Home
Who doesn’t love a fruit bat? Maybe that’s the wrong question. Who doesn’t love baby animals? That definitely sounds more “cuddly.” The words “fruit bat” may not inspire the warm fuzzies in most people, but if they saw this video, they’d change their minds.
These orphaned babies are currently under the watch of Trish Wimberley, a conservationist with the Australian Bat Clinic. Wimberley provides ’round-the-clock care for them, including their feeding and medical care.
It’s a job that will continue until they’re mature enough to return to the wild. But that means Wimberley may not sleep much until then—it’s not unusual for the baby bats to keep her up throughout the night.
When they’re old enough, Wimberley will help ready them for their release back into the wild.
The Australian Bat Clinic typically provides respite and rehabilitation for the country’s wild bat population when they’re sick, injured or orphaned. It’s an expensive job. The group of baby bats featured in the video goes through about $1,000 worth of food every week. The facility typically also covers their medical care, laundry bills (yes, those blankets get dirty), and transportation for their release. To help offset some of those costs, the clinic is currently seeking donations, as well as volunteers to pitch in wherever they can.
Related stories on TakePart:
• Jenny Webb Says Baby Elephant Moses Likes to Snuggle with his Human Mom
• Conservation Conundrum: Should Brazil Clone Endangered Species?
• Conservationists Weasel Endangered Ferrets Back Into the Wild
• Bats Alive! Potential Cures Found for White-Nose Syndrome
Original source: takepart.com