The grand release of 500 bats took place in the Feldman Ecopark on April 3. Animals, which were saved during winter by the specialists of the Centre of Cheiroptera Rehabilitation of the Ecopark, were returned to their natural habitat.
“We find bats in the city, when they get into unnatural conditions and need help,” the director of the Centre Anton Vlashchenko told. “For example, they may be found during renovation works, or when they fly in through the windows in winter.” These animals are often found in the centre of Kharkiv, as a lot of them spend winters in the buildings of Derzhprom and Karazin Kharkiv National University, and in the Pivnichna Saltivka district and in the other dormitory areas of the city.
The concerned citizens inform about bats in difficult conditions, after that, the workers of the Centre find them and bring to the Feldman Ecopark. The specialist and the young naturalists examine saved bats here, give them water and some food, and provide them with comfortable conditions for winter. In case of need, the injured bats are operated on in the clinic. “Even broken wing are often healed,” the specialists tell.
“The grand release of bats taken place in the Feldman Ecopark in spring for the fourth time is aimed to provide people with the opportunity to have a close look at the bats and to see that they are beautiful and harmless animals, to be not afraid of them and to change their attitude to them. Everyone was able to take a bat awaken after hibernation into hands and to help it take wing. This was made possible thanks to the support of the Oleksandr Feldman Foundation and the proper attitude to animals promoted and practiced by the Feldman Ecopark,” Mr. Vlashchenko emphasized.
It should be noted that Kharkiv is a regular winter shelter for a big number of bats, which live in the forests in summer. There are 12 species of Cheiroptera in Kharkiv oblast (30 species in Ukraine), and all of them are insectivorous and are included into the Red list. The animals of 5 species mainly get into the Feldman Ecopark.
