In 2023, staff at Bat World Sanctuary in Texas were alerted to a group of captive bats in desperate need of a second chance. The animals, eleven in all, were being held at a museum in Florida without proper care.
“These poor bats were being kept in inhumane conditions, and a very concerned caregiver reached out to us,” a spokesperson for Bat World Sanctuary told The Dodo.
The bats, many of whom were in their later years of life, were eventually rescued and transferred to the sanctuary’s geriatric ward to live out their days in peace and comfort.
And there, they’ve been learning a new feeling — what it’s like to be loved.
Among the elderly bats rescued from the museum was an Egyptian fruit bat named Bunny.
“We named him after his soft fur and sweet nature,” the sanctuary said. “He spends his time snacking and resting, and is often found cuddling in the soft pouches with his best friend, Bugs.”
Bunny, believed to be in his late teens, soon came to relish the perks of living at the sanctuary, which include special “spa days.”
“[Bunny] loves his grooming time,” the sanctuary said. “He is gently brushed, spot cleaned and then wrapped in a warm towel to rest.”
In a recent video, sanctuary volunteer John is seen lavishing Bunny with a cotton swab massage — during which the sweet old bat melts into an adorable puddle of happiness.
“He fully relaxes and lets us do all the work!” the sanctuary said.
After nearly two decades of neglect, Bunny and his companions now have it better than they ever could have imagined.
And they aren’t the only ones.
“We currently have nearly 700 bats in our care,” the sanctuary said, adding that most, like Bunny, are non-native species who cannot be released. Each year, the sanctuary also rescues and rehabilitates hundreds of native bats, most of whom are eventually returned to the wild.
It’s important work, done from the heart — and as Bunny’s smiling face proves, it couldn’t be more appreciated.
To learn more, or to find out how you can help, visit Bat World Sanctuary’s website here.
Rescuers Lift A Fallen Branch And See Hundreds Of Eyes Staring Back At ThemThey got the help they so desperately needed ❤️