There is nothing new in shelters for cats and dogs. But what about a bat shelter? All sick and injured bats, bats whose wings are damaged or locators are not working. All those who will not survive in the wild find shelter in the state of Texas.
They live some kind of amazing life of their own. In the morning they hang upside down, as if doing yoga. They gather in groups facing each other and hang with their webbed wings spread out, as if they are whispering.
But the main favorite of the shelter’s employees and subscribers is the old Statler bat.
Stadler is 33, has one eye, arthritis and so many injuries that he can no longer get into the air. But love can overcome any obstacles.
Technically, it’s not even a bat, but a flying fox. Probably, it was the giant silhouettes of his brothers that made people of the Middle Ages fantasize about vampires.
But Statler is not a vampire. He looks more like a cute and awkward house cat.
He is 33 years old. For his kind, this is more than old age. He is the oldest bat living in captivity. He’s seen a lot of grief in his life. He lived to old age with one eye, crippled wings and terrible arthritis..
Statler can no longer take to the air. He does not hold sick and wounded wings. But every day an employee of the shelter takes him out to «fly». She carefully holds the old bat with both hands, behind his back and tummy, while he spreads his wings in the air and feels that he is flying again.
