| All About Bats/Meet Our Flying Foxes! |  |
 Meet Our Flying Foxes!Photographs have brought the little-known world of bats to people everywhere, enhancing awareness of these seldom-seen animals. However, actually seeing a live bat can make a huge impact on those fortunate enough to meet one of BCI's gentle Bat Ambassadors. Since their arrival in the United States from Africa in 1984, these straw-colored fruit bats (Eidolon helvum) have accompanied Merlin Tuttle and other BCI staff across the country to school programs, guest lectures, and media events. Their appearances have done much to dispel myths about bats and inform people of the important role bats play in a healthy environment.
BCI's flying foxes are special ambassadors, accompanying staff to educational programs, winning the hearts of many and gaining invaluable proponents for bat conservation in the process. The flying foxes live a carefree life in a spacious, room-sized cage that is divided into three sections connected by bat-sized passageways. During the day, they snuggle together, resting quietly in cozy roosts. They become active in the early evening, emerging from behind fuzzy white curtains to feed on juicy fruits, steamed vegetables, and leafy greens.   
The bats cackle and play throughout much of the night, climbing from branch to branch like little monkeys. They are very curious animals and meticulously investigate any new items placed in their cages. A variety of branches, ladders, and baskets provide environmental diversity. It is partly their unending curiosity that makes them such wonderful educational animals, offering entertaining poses as they press their noses against microphones and camera lenses, attempting to peer inside.    The 3 girls share their roost with Zuri, an old man in his twenties who considers himself a distinguished gentleman of great importance, having made an appearance on the Tonight Show and the David Letterman Show. Although he is now retired from the public arena, he remains a bit spoiled because of his celebrity status and is quick to complain if anything is not to his liking. He is shown here enjoying his favorite food, sweet juicy melon. He uses his thumbs and toes to hold onto the fruit. After chewing the juice from the fruit, he will spit out the pulp. Notice the males have bright orange fur under the neck. Zuri is claiming to be the proud father of the new baby. However, Zorba and Zotz, the 6- and 4-year-old boys next door, are being viewed with some suspicion after being observed attempting some interesting acrobatics through the netting that separates them from the girls in the adjoining cage. Confirmation of paternity is pending DNA testing.   Although Zorba and Zotz are best friends by day, they put on a great show of bravado in the evenings, cackling noisily and swatting at one another with folded wings to impress the girls who come to watch. With a quieter honk and a wing flapping, Zorba likes to call out to the girls. The girls soon tire of their antics and wander away, and with no one to impress, the two boys cuddle together again, grooming one another in friendship. Sound Files Zuri grumbling when dinner is served |
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