Sanctuary Stories
The Baby Bat Who’s Teaching People How Cute and Important Bats Really Are
At Bat World Sanctuary in Texas, an abandoned bat named Simon has a chance to socialize, fly, and dispel dangerous myths about his species
Throughout history, bats have been vilified. Mysterious and nocturnal, bats have been the subject of classic horror stories, modern-day myths, and dangerous rumours. From blood-sucking and rabies-spreading, to SARS-hosting and now linked to coronavirus COVID-19, fears and misconceptions about bats continue to contribute to their often bad reputation. Unfortunately, this can also lead to their mistreatment, and certainly a lack of credit for the important role they play within the environment.
At Bat World Sanctuary in north Texas, educating the public about these misunderstandings, and deciphering what is true and what is not true about bats, is a big part of their job. That, and saving a lot of little lives, of native, insect-eating bats who have been injured, and non-native fruit bats who often originate in the pet trade, lab research, or in the case of baby Simon: roadside zoos.
