Video of an Adorable Rescued Bat Shows Why Saving These Animals is So Important

Bats are some of the most misunderstood animals on the planet. We’re taught to fear these creatures and view them as ruthless, “blood sucking” monsters. But what we rarely learn about bats is how much we need them for our own survival. That’s right, the animals we associate with fear and death are actually crucial to our existence. Why’s that? Well, bats play an important role in our global food system.

Like bees and butterflies, bats are a pollinating species. These animals are responsible for the pollination of avocados, mangoes, dates, and a variety of other edible plants. They also serve as natural pest control as they eat mosquitos and other small bugs that we consider to be problematic.

Knowing this, the work that Batzilla and many other organizations do to protect struggling bat populations becomes even more important. In the video above, we see a young Grey-headed flying fox named Master Rhett who was found in a water-filled gutter. This poor little one was dehydrated and extremely weak. Due to the extent of his ailments, he had to spend 24 hours in an incubator but his caretakers are doing the very best they can to ensure he pulls through.

In the post accompanying this video on the Batzilla the Bat Facebook page, Master Rhett’s caretaker writes, “Greys are federally listed as vulnerable to extinction and they are still being legally shot in two states. The federal government is looking at delisting Greys as their vulnerable status is in question despite plummeting populations.”

While Master Rhett might just be one bat, he is a vital member of his species and we hope that these amazing caretakers can help him recover and return to the wild.

Protecting the world’s bat population is up to us. Share this video and encourage others to learn how important these creatures are. To Support the work of Batzilla, click here.

Remember, if you ever come across an injured wild animal, it is always best to contact a professional wildlife rehabilitator, click here for a few that could help.