For the first time in the UK Bats can be seen in an indoor nocturnal environment at the British Bat Sanctuary at Woodlands Leisure Park near Dartmouth. Sylvia Bevis from the Devon Bat Group is very excited about the project ?I have been working with bats for twenty years? she said ?for the first time the public will be able to see British Bats behaving naturally in a habitat planned to suit their needs?
Saving British Bats
For the first time in the UK Bats can be seen in an indoor nocturnal environment at the British Bat Sanctuary at Woodlands Leisure Park near Dartmouth. Sylvia Bevis from the Devon Bat Group is very excited about the project ?I have been working with bats for twenty years? she said ?for the first time the public will be able to see British Bats behaving naturally in a habitat planned to suit their needs?
Sylvia and her group are concerned about the decline of British Bats. ?Unfortunately cats injure many of the bats which are brought to us. Most we treat to return to the wild, but sadly some could never survive and in the past these would be euthanized?. She explained ?Now we can give them the perfect indoor environment which replicates as much as possible their natural habitat?.
British Bats and their roosts are protected by the Wildlife & Countryside Act and it is illegal to kill, injure or disturb a bat. The Devon Bat Group has overseen the construction of the British Bat Sanctuary in the new nocturnal house at Woodlands. Sylvia is bringing 18 Pipistrelle Bats and 4 Long Eared Bats to the Sanctuary.
They are fascinating animals? she told us ?in October the males choose a special cave or hollow tree and sing all night to attract the females to mate, the best singer may have a harem of 15. Mothers only have one baby which can cling to her as she is hunting for insects. Pipistrelles can catch 3,000 insects a night so they are really useful in the garden. Cats can hear their ultrasonic calls as they fly low or drink water from a pond which makes them very vulnerable, they can receive terrible injuries and some never fly again, this is why the British Bat Sanctuary is so important?.
The British Bat Conservation Trust and the Devon Bat Group are planning to carry out a research programme at the sanctuary once the bats have settled in. ?It is a unique opportunity? Sylvia said ?for researchers and schools to study British Bats in a controlled nocturnal habitat. We believe it is very important for children to discover how intelligent, entertaining and inquisitive bats can be. They do nearly everything upside down including eating and sleeping. They look particularly comical as they struggle to groom their feet and wingtips upside down!?
The bats needs are of paramount importance? Sylvia concluded ?Experience has taught us that after a day or two they will be eager to leave their roost. It will be interesting to watch their behaviour as they explore the 128 sq.ft. sanctuary. We have provided stimulating ?toys? to encourage the bats to settle down in their new home. It will be a very exciting time, not only for the Devon Bat Group but everyone who takes the opportunity to visit the British Bat Sanctuary?
The British Bat Sanctuary will be open at Woodlands Nocturnal House ready for the half term Halloween celebrations. The daily admission to Woodlands includes entrance to the British Bat Sanctuary.