Bat emergency aid in Thuringia: Rescuers fight day and night!

Bat emergency aid in Thuringia: Rescuers fight day and night!

In Thuringia the love for the small flying skills of the night is unbroken. Around 20 different species of bats live here, but they face major challenges due to man-made changes in their environment. Ines Schmidt and Lutz Bachmann, the operators of the Bat Emergency Aid in Gera, work tirelessly to protect these fascinating animals. Every day they work to help injured bats and sometimes travel to Zwickau to provide valuable support. MDR chronicles their impressive work while juggling full-time jobs and family responsibilities.

There are currently eight bats in the care of Ines Schmidt, although two of them require special intensive care. The animals are fed every two hours, even at night - with live mealworms. A real challenge, especially when it comes to young bats that are still dependent on the care of their rescuers. Ines Schmidt explains that only those animals that cannot fly for longer than 20 minutes stay with them. The two helpers have already carried out 88 missions this year, which underlines the urgency and importance of their task.

The challenges for bats

The bats' situation is tense. According to information from NABU Many species suffer from intensive agriculture and forestry as well as the destruction of natural habitats. The destruction of traditional quarters and the reduction of food sources are the main problems. The NABU and NAJU groups are also in demand here, as they actively contribute to bat protection through lectures, excursions and the construction of nesting boxes.

In order to further improve the protection of bats, the special task “Bat Protection” of the Natura 2000 network in Thuringia aims to take care of the concerns of all relevant species. As the Bat Foundation reports on its website, this includes, among other things, neighborhood management and support for project sponsors in order to secure the habitats and ecological requirements for native bat species and also to identify endangered areas.

Protect bats, raise awareness among the population

With over 35 designated FFH objects in Thuringia, it is clear how important it is to preserve and restore biological diversity in the region. These projects are often implemented in collaboration with local partners from agriculture and forestry in order to strengthen local structures. High-profile projects aim to raise awareness of native animals and plants and to actively involve the population in bat protection.

Ines Schmidt is currently looking for more helpers via Facebook to support the work of the emergency aid. Unfortunately, many applicants fail to meet the requirement of a rabies vaccination, as bats can be potential carriers. Nevertheless, it remains to be hoped that more people will develop an interest in the fascinating world of bats and actively work to protect them.