See how sweetly these volunteers take care of orphaned baby bats

The Tolga Bat Hospitallocated near Atherton in the Atherton Tablelands of Queensland, Australia, is a facility dedicated to the conservation and rehabilitation of bats. Founded in 1990 by Jenny Maclean, the center has grown from a small community initiative to an organization recognized internationally for its commitment to bat care and public education.

Tolga Bat Hospital’s primary mission is the conservation of bats and their habitats through rescue, rehabilitation, research, education and advocacy. The center focuses on caring for bats affected by tick paralysis, wounds caused by thorny fences, fruit nets and other anthropogenic hazards.

How the rehabilitation process happens

The rehabilitation process is long and complex. During the tick season, the center’s local and international volunteers they patrol the colonies daily of bats searching for paralyzed individuals. They also respond to calls for bats trapped in fences or nets.

Bats affected by tick paralysis receive antidotes and supportive care to counteract the effects of the venom. Those with injuries are treated with appropriate veterinary interventions. The orphans are fed with specific formulas and receive comfort through “heated socks, puppets and pacifiers to simulate the maternal presence as we see in the videos published on their social pages.

As they grow, they are transferred to aviaries where they can practice flight and independent feeding. Once recovered, the bats come released into their natural habitat. Some, ineligible for release, remain at the center as permanent residents.

The ecological importance of bats

But Tolga Bat Hospital doesn’t just care for these animals, it also offers guided tours to educate the public about themecological importance of bats which play a crucial role in ecosystems as pollinators and natural insect controllers. Their conservation is essential to maintain ecological balance and biodiversity. Visitors can observe the bats up close as they feed and learn how they behave.

The center also collaborates with scientific institutions to facilitate research into bat biology, diseases and rehabilitation techniques. These collaborations help improve conservation practices and better understand the challenges bats face.