What does one do with seven orphaned baby bats? You wrap them up all snuggly-like, of course.
The Australian Bat Clinic have a new brood on their hands -- a baby brood. Without their mother these furry little orphans require cleaning, feeding and nurturing so they can be released to the wild and rejoin the embattled population of Australian Flying Foxes. But before being returned to the outback, these vital little creatures must first grow at the well trained hands of the staff and volunteers at the clinic.
Wakaleo explains: "When a bat mother dies, often their young are still attached and will not survive without the right care. Bat carers play a vital role in not only retrieving suffering bats, but rehabilitating them until they can be released back into the wild. When baby bats first enter rehabilitation it can be traumatising for them as they have just been separated from their mothers to which they have formed strong bonds. Bat carers have to ensure that the baby bats not only are well fed, but that they are nurtured and feel safe in their temporary new home. Providing affection for the bats is a necessity."
While flying foxes are considered a menace to many in Australia, mostly due to their fruit-eating habit, the depleted population is not going unoticed. It is legal to shoot these creatures and fruit farmers are often known to do so, but the use of fruit-saver netting is growing in popularity and the staff and volunteers at the Australian Bat Clinic are doing their best to bring the population back to health.
"They are flying gardeners performing a priceless environmental service."
-Peter Cundall, ABC's Gardening Australia