Lil' Drac: Orphaned Short-Tailed Fruit Bat Rescued By Bat World Sanctuary (VIDEO)

Prepare to have your opinion about bats changed forever.

Meet Lil' Drac, a short-tailed fruit bat taken in by Bat World Sanctuary, an organization with a mission that includes promoting the protection and conservation of wild bats.

VIDEO BELOW

According to the organization, this little guy was abandoned by his mother who was traumatized when a zoo she was living in closed and she had to be moved.

Because he's not being raised by his mother, the volunteers stroke his stomach with a cotton swab to simulate the feeling of a mother's tongue. And as you'll see in the video below, he's learned to suck milk through a small piece of foam.

There have been other notable rescues of orphaned bats this year.

Last month, nearly 100 orphaned baby fruit bats (a different species than Lil' Drac) were rescued in Australia after their parents had died from February's Cyclone Yasi.

And in January, the Australian Bat Clinic and Wildlife Trauma Centre rescued another 130 orphaned bats whose parents had been killed in flooding on the country's Gold Coast.

Note: If you see a bat, don't touch it -- contact animal control.

WATCH Lil' Drac (Via io9.):

Comments

[quintus]

09:42 AM on 03/02/2012

Awesome video. Very moving. In an ideal world all of us would exhibit this same extraordinary degree of care (another word for love) for all sentient beings, knowing how precious life is.

Heartfelt gratitude to those in this world whose deep reverence for all life motivates them to act in similar ways. We all possess the capacity, but not necessarily the inclination.

[westreal]

02:31 PM on 01/12/2012

Interesting

[VesperLove]

04:04 PM on 01/06/2012

This is such a kind, loving, gentle video.
I have watched it several times, and each time it made me cry.
There is so much kindness and good in this world. We just have to be open to see it.
I love you, Lil' Drac.

[Crystal Starr Mcneese]

03:58 PM on 12/21/2011

Thats the cutiest thing Ive ever seen.....

[Rhonda Geanne]

10:19 PM on 12/16/2011

Thankful for all of gods little miracles!!!!

[Debbie338]

02:39 PM on 12/15/2011

BatWorld is a great organization, and I've known Amanda for years. You can support her and her work while doing your Christmas shopping. Go to their website to look for BatWorld Wines. You can buy collector sets of excellent wines that benefit BatWorld!

[Random Hero]

01:53 PM on 12/15/2011

C U T E !!!!!!

[BossaNovaKitten]

10:11 AM on 12/15/2011

So content with a belly full of milk it's rocking and rolling, and dancing upside down. This video should be required viewing for all so contentious with life that they'd do something like cut someone off in traffic, or taze just to get to a sales item first. Being so called "dominant" over the earth doesn't mean we can't learn to be a better person from natures zen. Having said that... I love this video... The bat is beautiful... But... the last thing I would ever want to do is get that close to one. So thank you so much for the time and effort you put forth to re-open Scrooge-y hearts and bring us a slice of life we can charitably support... Yet never know personally. Happy holidays.

[jfmcmurray]

07:36 AM on 12/15/2011

Beautiful "tender" moment in the life of a rescued bat.

[KCarson530]

10:20 PM on 12/14/2011

Though Ms. Curry raised a wild animal by herself with no training, I presume; that is a bad idea. Anyone finding wildlife that is in distress should call the authorities; wildlife rehabbers, animal control, game wardens, veterinarians; so the proper care can be given the animal. Wildlife easily goes into shock, it can be dangerous when fearful and it will be. These are not dogs and cats and are handled and cared for very differently. Treat them with ethical, moral action call for an expert no matter how "cute" they are and how much you want to help. The best way to help is to get the right help. That way they will "live long and prosper" as you intended.

[Gizmo9]

10:32 PM on 12/16/2011

I think you are exaggerating just a little bit. Wildlife goes into shock? What the heck are you talking about. This person obviously knows what she is doing.

[Cathy Valentine Curry]

06:55 PM on 12/14/2011

I raised a baby Evening Bat that had fallen out of our Royal Palm tree during a bad storm. That little bat was the sweetest little creature I have ever had the opportunity to take care of. He was extremely tiny and even full grown wasn't very big. He would crawl around and visit with us and at night he'd hang in the corner of a little cage we made him. He grew up fine and joined his family in our trees. I sometimes wish I could find another one to care for. It was a neat experience.

[ckava3]

02:33 AM on 12/17/2011

Let me thank you & the people who cared for this bat, for all you did. I've never been a 'bat fan' particularly, but ALL creatures on this Earth deserve to be helped & taken care of. Many wouldn't have taken the time to do this, I'm thankful you did. . . I try to give to all animal care organizations, I feel all animals deserve our help.

[Conansr]

06:27 PM on 12/14/2011

Wow! that little bat is the cutest, I can't believe how small it is. I'm sure glad god put them on this earth to put a dent in the insect population.

[GretchenMann]

06:25 PM on 12/14/2011

I'm an animal lover. I know how tremendously important bats are for ecosystem balance, pollination, etc.. The science of their echolocation is fascinating. I would never, ever harm a bat or any other animal intentionally. BUT, this did not change my opinion of bats. Not even the maudlin music changes my opinion that they are creepy. (shudder)

[Debbie338]

02:41 PM on 12/15/2011

It's too bad you feel that way. But, I'm glad you are at least sympathetic. :-)

[Sarah Underwood]

02:08 AM on 12/14/2011

Oh my goodness! Can't say that this video changed my opinion of bats as I have always had a great deal of respect and awe for them. When one considers the tremendous amount of good they do, it is hard to understand why anyone would be afraid of them or want to hurt them.

[lengvarskyr]

11:16 PM on 12/13/2011

And God created great sea creatures, and everything that moves, with which the waters abounded according to their kind, and every winged creature according to it's kind. And God saw that it was good. And God blessed them, saying 'Be fruitful and multuiply, and fill the Earth" Genesis 1:21-22.
I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made! Psalm 139:14