Rehab clinic opens for hurt bats

Serotine bats will be among those at the new aviary

Concerns about the need to protect bats has led to the first centre for the injured animals in the South West.

Dartington Hall Trust near Totnes has built an "aviary", nicknaming it The Batty Ford Clinic, which will accommodate 20 bats at a time.

The new bat aviary will offer injured bats a place of healing and recovery before being returned to the wild.

Species will include the Soprano and Pipistrelles, Natterers, Noctules and Serotines.

The scheme is a collaboration with the Devon Bat Group and University of Exeter.

Long lifespan

Dartington conservation manager Tom Stevens said: "All bat species are now protected in the UK but many are threatened because of changes in land use and building practices.

"The new bat aviary will offer a vital recovery space for the hundreds of bats found injured or in need of relocation every year."

Dr Fiona Mathews from the University of Exeter said: "Bats have a remarkably long lifespan for a small creature, over 20 years.

"Successfully returning an individual to the wild can therefore have a real impact for conservation.

"As well as being used to help injured bats, the flight cage will be used to train abandoned baby bats how to fly and hunt."

Insects will be encouraged into the aviary to give the bats practice in hunting during their convalescence.

Once the bats are within the aviary, volunteers will feed them and care for them until it is determined that they are strong enough to be released into the wild.