Because it’s Monday, and because we’re all facing the dreariness of the first day back at work after a holiday, here. Have a video of baby bats being swaddled in blanket burritos. If you watch only one video today, make it this one — it’s way too cute to miss.
These baby flying foxes currently live at the Australian Bat Clinic in Advancetown, Australia. They sadly lost their mothers during an “extreme heat event”; with no mother to care for them, they have little chance of survival in the wild. That’s where the Australian Bat Clinic and other wildlife groups come in: They rescue the baby bats and care for them until they’re old enough to be released. Because of the trauma the bats suffer from losing their mothers so suddenly, bat carers not only have to make sure that their charges are well fed and healthy, but also that they feel safe, secure, and loved. Being wrapped up in itty bitty blankets helps with that sense of security — and what better way for the clinic to raise awareness for their cause than by giving us a peek at these adorable little bat burritos?
Here’s what I learned about baby flying foxes today, thanks to this video (scroll down to watch the whole thing):
They Like to Be Tickled
Bat belly rubs are the best belly rubs.
They Can Wear Teeny, Tiny Casts If They Need To
I hope your little leg recovers soon, bat baby!
They Like to Chew on Things
Those little rubber things in their mouths are kind of like pacifiers or baby bottle tops; according to the video’s description, “the teats represent their mother’s nipple, and this makes them feel more comfortable.” Here’s what it looks like when they’re fed:
Sometimes They Need Sponge Baths
Cleanliness before batliness.
They Like to Snuggle
You guys. This is so cute I can barely stand it. Look at them. That is adorable.
You can’t hear it through the Internet, but I am making an extremely high pitched “squee” noise right now.
Swaddling animals for the purposes of their health is a pretty common practice; anyone who’s ever owned a cat, for example, knows that burrito-ing their feline is usually the only way to make them take medicine. We’ve even seen owls get the rollup treatment, although they tend to do better in towels than in blankets. No matter how many times I see it, though, it never fails to make me absolutely melt. Anyone else?
The Australian Bat Clinic is a non-profit organization that gets its support entirely from donations; if you want to help out, head over to their website. Watch the whole video below:
Images: Wakaleo/YouTube (8)
