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A rare bat who was rescued by the RSPCA has found herself a Batman in time for Valentines Day!
Merri the grey-long-eared bat was found grounded in Merriott, Somerset, back in August (2017) when she was just three weeks old. Since then she has been recovering in the care of RSPCA West Hatch Wildlife Centre in Taunton building up her weight and flying strength ready to be released in the Spring.
Her rescuers thought the tiny bat may have to fly solo back into the wild but when another male long-eared companion, Gandalf, came in to the care of nearby Secret World Wildlife Rescue, bat rehabilitators had the idea of pairing them up so they could be released together.
RSPCA staff member and bat expert India Long, who took Merri under her wing when she was first admitted, said: “Merri was tiny when she first came in to us - she only weighed 5g and needed round the clock care.
“She was really frail and close to death, we weren’t sure if she would make it so it’s amazing that she has pulled through so well. She has more than doubled in weight. We’re all really looking forward to releasing her - and her new friend - back into the wild!
“She had been living alongside brown long-eared-bats before Gandalf came along - but they seem to have really hit it off as they cuddle up on one side of the room, and the brown long eared bats are huddled up together on the other side of the room.
“We don’t know if their little love story will last when fly off into the night in to the big wide world together - they may just be friends - but we hope so!
“We are going to set up a special bat box for them where they are going to be released in the hope they will roost there. It has to have an apex roof so they can fit in with their longs ears.
India added: “Grey long-eared bats are one of the rarest bats in England and among the rarest mammals. There’s thought to be only around 1,000 of them in this country so to have two in the same area that need help and can then be released together is incredible!”
Daniel Clifford Bryant, animal carer at Secret World who took Gandalf in to their care initially, said: “We are thrilled to hear that Gandalf has been paired up with a female and that they can return home together. Working with other wildlife rescue centres is so important in being able to maintain our native wildlife populations"
India will continue to care for the grey long-eared bats before working with the Somerset Bat Group to their eventual release.
To help the RSPCA continue rescuing, rehabilitating and rehoming animals, like Merri, please visit: www.rspca.org.uk/give. To help support the RSPCA’s West Hatch Wildlife Centre, in Somerset, visit their website: www.rspca.org.uk/local/west-hatch-wildlife-centre/help.