Batty

A lesser short-nosed fruit bat (Cynopterus brachyotis, I think) hanging from a wire outside the front door. At barely 10 cm from snout to vent, this fairly common fruit bat is tiny compared to its huge edible cousins. This afternoon, I saw a little lump of leather on the ground floor landing soon after the rain abated. Prodding it with my foot, it unfurled and proceeded to climb up my trouser leg, unleashing a near-swoon at the fearful thought of a stream of guano peppering my pants. A handy twig gently dislodged the little bat which fluttered weakly before landing on the cement once more.

With the area patrolled by mangy toms and mischievous children, it seemed fitting to transport the fledermaus to a higher refuge. Thus, the foxy-faced flier got a lift ride up to the fifth floor, where it endured a squealful photospell on a convenient wire before I hung it on its makeshift perch from a network of cisternal pipes close to the ceiling, beyond the reach of cats and the sight of flighty eyes. The bat folded its wings over its weary head and fell into a deep snooze. By the time I got home at midnight, it was gone, with hope an interim victim of a soggy day and a thirst for pericarped juices. 

Comments

[Aydin]

Neat creature.