Amazing flight of 'laid-back' bat

Experts were amazed by the creature's lengthy journey

A baby bat astounded experts after an epic journey in record time, despite being a member of a "lazy" species.

The rare female greater horseshoe bat flew more than 100 miles from Gloucestershire to another bat colony in Dorset in under three months.

The endangered greater horseshoe is a highly laid-back species and rarely flies far from its roost.

Experts were amazed that the tagged bat managed to find another colony and avoid predators during the journey.

One or two long journeys have been recorded by male greater horseshoe bats before, but these trips have usually taken up to two years.

The baby bat, now aged six months, was ringed at birth in Woodchester Mansion in Gloucestershire in July.

She then left Woodchester Park and was ringed again on the Isle of Purbeck, Dorset, at the end of September, three months later.

A National Trust spokeswoman said: "This is an amazing journey for such a tiny animal to take."

Dr David Bullock, head of Nature Conservation at the trust, added: "Whatever this young bat's motives for its journey, the discovery of its flight has been an extremely lucky event.

"Only a few out of the hundreds of babies that are tagged are picked up elsewhere."