Bats are the only true flying mammals. There are over 1,400 species of bats, and they can be found on nearly every part of the planet. Not only are they cute, they are also important...
Studying how bats use echolocation has helped scientists develop navigational aids for the blind. Without bats’ pollination, seed dispersal, and pest control we wouldn’t have bananas, avocados, mangoes, agave, or cacao… that’s right, bats bring us tequila and chocolate!
Do not handle it with bare hands! Bats can carry rabies.
Here's a map of worldwide rescues and temporary care instructions.
Bats should never be kept as pets: Here's why.
Our community's mascot is Baxter. Baxter is an Egyptian fruit bat that was cruelly kept alone and confined to a small cage for 12 years before being rescued by a bat sanctuary. You can read the full story by clicking on his name.
Our rules for posting and commenting, besides the rules defined here for lemmy.world, are as follows:
Everyone should feel welcome here. Hateful or bigoted language will not be tolerated.
Don’t post anything a fruit bat would not approve of.
Please don't hate on bats in this community (this includes all of your edgy covid humor).
Bats don’t like spam.
For inquiry on becoming a moderator of this community, please send a message to the current moderators. Any feedback on the community should also be sent to the moderators.
The worlds cutest bats. If it wasn't for the diseases they might carry, I'd love if we could domesticate and make them pets because I'd absolutely love to have one.
thank goodness there’s banana for scale
That's not a banana in his pocket...
5 feet ~ 1 m 50 i think
What do they mean "mainly" feeds on fruits and nectar?
They also like to eat misbehaving children.
In all seriousness, they also eat flowers, pollen, and nectar, and some species may eat insects if fruit is scarce.
But also children
only if they're misbehaving.
They have been known to tempt children into misbehaving if they're in the mood for veal.
If domesticating charismatic species as pets was a priority, flying foxes should be on the shortlist, alongside sloths and capybaras.
Not wise. They carry Lyssavirus which is basically rabies.
You can get vaxxed, but unless you're a bat handler, there's basically no need.
They are amazing animals though. My mum rehabilitates injured / stray flying foxes.
Perhaps the breeding/genetic engineering process involved in the domestication project could target rabies immunity as well
I carry rabies too but I'm still domesticated.
Sky doggy.
Why is president Obama in the photo?
When this is the norm and then you find out how tiny bats are in the US, Batman ceases to have any rep. True childhood story.
That looks huge! I wonder how big it would be if it stretched its wings...
Forced perspective. With that said, possibly as much as more than 5 feet. Maybe.