The Little Free-tailed Bat (Chaerephon pumilus)

This Little Free-tailed Bat was lying on the floor in the corridor of the hotel at the entrance to our room. My daughter quickly picked it up without any fear because she handled a bat before when we stayed on the farm. We used to lay on the grass during summer in the early evenings watching the bats catching insects. She wanted to keep it, but I thought it best to take it out and let it go so it can feed. Unfortunately, I only took these two shots as this little one was frail with fatigue and very distressed.

The Little Free-tailed Bat is one of the smallest species of bats reaching a length of 5-10 cm and weighs 7-16 grams. You can find them in Africa and islands where they roost in rocks and in the roofs of houses in large colonies. They have a fast flying pattern and do not flutter like other bats. These little bats feeds on beetles, bugs, moths, mosquitoes and flies. They can give birth 3 times per year during the months of November, January and April to one young at a time.

Thought this was quite cute:

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