Living the high life! One-eyed fruit bat Statler, aged 33, takes his daily ‘flight’ around Texas geriBATric ward carried aloft by a sanctuary worker
- Statler the Indian Flying Fox is believed to be the world’s oldest bat in captivity
- The 33-year-old fruit bat lives at the Bat World Sanctuary in Weatherford, Texas
- He suffers from arthritis and only has one eye after being mistreated elsewhere
This is the moment 33-year-old fruit bat Statler takes his daily ‘flight’ as zoo keepers lift him up to allow him to fly his wings.
The ancient Indian Flying Fox is believed to be the world’s oldest bat living in captivity at the Bat World Sanctury in Weatherford, Texas.
The one-eyed bat has his mobility severely inhibited due to his arthritis and is unable to fly.
If he was in the wild, he would be unable to hunt for food and would die.
Statler, the one-eyed fruit bat is believed to be the oldest bat living in captivity
The ancient Indian Flying Fox is believed to be the world’s oldest bat living in captivity at the Bat World Sanctury in Weatherford, Texas
As well as exercising his arthritic wings, Statler is known to enjoy eating a fruit salad
Statler, pictured, was misreated at another zoo and lost an eye in a fight
However, staff at the wildlife sanctuary, which is about 20 miles west of Fort Worth, give Statler exercises every morning and ensure he is properly bathed in a sponge bath and fed a fruit salad.
According to Addison McCool of the Bat World Sanctuary said Statler lived in an enclosure along with two other elderly bats Chessie and Starlie.
She told the HuffPost: ‘Most of our bats, they’re still very much wild animals. Statler is a little bit of an exception to that. He’s quite the special boy in that he really, really loves being with us and loves being around people.’
She said that Statler still enjoyed the concept of flying.
The bat was born on April 28, 1987 in Riverbanks Zoo in South Carolina and was unable to be released into the wild.
According to McCool, earlier in his life before arriving at her sanctuary, Statler had been mistreated and had some ‘battle scars’ including his missing eye.
The oldest known bat, according to McCool was 41 at the time of its death.
She said they are planning a birthday party for Statler in April, including fruit cake.
The bat was born on April 28, 1987 in Riverbanks Zoo in South Carolina and was unable to be released into the wild