Barbara Gorecka strokes a bat in her apartment in Szczecin on February 1, 2024.
- A Polish pensioner has been nicknamed “Bat Mama” after caring for a sick bat in her ninth-floor apartment.
- Barbara Gorecka, 69, runs a bat sanctuary in a residential building and says she currently cares for about 1,600 bats.
- For Goreka, there is a clear link between climate change and the increasing number of bats in need of help in shelters.
- For climate change news and analysis, visit: News24 The future of climate.
As nocturnal mammals increasingly suffer from the effects of climate change, a Polish pensioner is being dubbed the “bat mom” for caring for a sick bat in her ninth-floor apartment.
Barbara Gorecka, 69, runs a bat sanctuary in the residential building where she lives, and says she currently cares for about 1,600 bats.
“It all started exactly 16 years ago, in a very cold January, when bats started appearing in my apartment through the ventilation ducts, with bats chirping and flying around her,” Gorecka said. told AFP.
She currently cares for about 30 bats that are sick, injured, or have suddenly woken up from hibernation.
“Most of the time, the bats that end up here are exhausted and woken up by things like fireworks,” she says.
For Goreka, there is a clear link between climate change and the increasing number of bats in need of help in shelters.
“Because of the warm weather and extreme temperatures, they think spring is already here and there will be food. Unfortunately, they have lost so much energy that they can't even fly anymore.” said Goretzka.
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bat in sleeve
The pensioner said she initially shared prejudices and myths about bats, such as rabies, but she consulted a microbiologist friend who “calmed her down.”
She is now surrounding herself with experts and building a network of volunteers to help remove bats at bat sanctuaries. Each volunteer has a unique name, feeding routine, and medication regimen.
“Some bats stay here for a very short period of time, say two weeks… but some bats need long-term rehabilitation, such as the bat that suffered a broken bone,” said one bat, who was wearing a jumper. Goretzka said as he ran up and down.
“Bat Mom” is so used to having a bat under her blouse that she sometimes forgets and leaves the apartment with a bat in her sleeve.
“I used to go to church that way, too,” she said.
Mr. Gorecka also takes the bat to school for science lessons with the children.
“I have to admit that I just love them…I can wake up in the middle of the night to give them antibiotics,” Gorecka said.
“That's how you love a child.”
