Bat World Sanctuary

Bat World Sanctuary was founded in 1994 as a non-profit rescue-rehabilitation center and sanctuary operated exclusively for bats. Based in North Texas with rescue centers nationwide, the organization is "dedicated to improving the lives of bats in captivity, educating the public about bats to dispel myths and encourage conservation as well as providing worldwide rescue efforts for bats." Bat World Sanctuary is verified with the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries and accredited with the American Sanctuary Association. Bat World Sanctuary has published both scientific and popular literature about bats, including the first standards for captive bats, a document that was subsequently utilized by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries.

Bat World and its Founder and President, Amanda Lollar, were recently awarded a judgement against a former intern and wildlife rehabilitator, Mary Cummins, who posted defamation against the organization. At the trial’s conclusion, Judge Brigham compared Lollar’s reputation in caring for bats to that of Jane Goodall’s care for primates. The Judge stated that Cummins defamation of Lollar was "egregious, intentional and malicious." Cummins was ordered to pay 6.1 million in damages, plus interest. In retaliation, Cummins sued Amanda Lollar in federal court and lost that suit as well. Despite being harassed over the internet by Mary Cummins for two years, Bat World Sanctuary has only become stronger and now actively advocates for more stringent cyber-stalking laws.

The organization is volunteer staffed and donation supported. The sanctuary provides medical treatment for thousands of injured and orphaned bats each year, with over 80% saved and returned to the wild. Its objectives are;

• Rescue, rehabilitation and release of injured and orphaned bats.
• To provide a permanent sanctuary for non-releasable bats.
• Promoting the humane treatment of captive bats in zoo and research environments.
• Protecting wild bat colonies from abuse and destruction.
• Promoting bat conservation through education.
• Increasing public awareness about safety issues regarding the inappropriate handling of bats.

Each year they rescue thousands of bats that might otherwise die and engage in activism to end the abuse and destruction of bats. Lifetime sanctuary is given to non-releasable bats, including those that are orphaned, injured, confiscated from the illegal pet trade and retired from zoos and research facilities. Bat World Sanctuary is an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that was legally formed in 2010.

External links

• Bat World Sanctuary