The Rescue of Barry the (Pipistrelle) Bat!
08-04-2025
Some of the Phlorum staff recently completed a bat survey and care course run by the Sussex Bat Group.
This week, the Phlorum team was called to rescue an exhausted and dehydrated common pipistrelle bat from a site in East London. Contractors found the bat high on the wall along the dockyards.
The contract team contacted Phlorum and then closed the area off and installed warning signs. Phlorum staff arrived on site and after a quick site induction, were escorted to the area.
The bat could be seen clinging to the rough tiles high up a wall. It had probably been there for over 24 hours. Using a MEWP (mobile elevating work platform), Phlorum staff quickly and carefully removed the bat from the wall and placed it in a breathable bag, which was placed in a shoebox with a towel and air pockets.
The bat was then taken to the Sussex Bat Hospital to recover. The bat was a male, weighing 3.4g. After taking in some water and meal worm innards, he is now recovering well and has been reported as being feisty! The contractors on site named the bat Barry.
We would like to thank the contractors for their speedy action in closing off the area and calling Phlorum to help. Their actions helped save Barry!
You can see in the following video Barry being given his first drink, post-rescue, by a member of Phlorum staff:
