The Story of Pongo
The e-mail began: "Don't know if you've heard, but we have one of your bats here in the south of England."
It is hard to imagine how the life of one so tiny as a bat could affect so many human lives globally, but such was the case when an American bat, Tadarida brasiliensis Mexicana, (Mexican free-tail) was discovered lying exhausted on the docks at the Isle of Grain in England.      

Apparently the tiny mammal had stowed away on a cargo ship that arrived from America.  Terribly weakened from lack of food during his passage, the bat was barely clinging to life.  A concerned dockworker immediately contacted Sheila Wright, an experienced bat rehabber with the Kent Bat Group, to render assistance. 
Pongo, safely home

Under Sheila's care the emaciated bat soon gained weight. Unlike most bats, free-tailed bats come complete with a  musky aroma similar to that of stale tortilla chips. Apparently,  it was an odor Sheila had never before  smelled. She affectionately christened the tiny traveler  "Pongo," an English term for something  on the stinky side. 

Mexican free-tails are highly social animals who suffer both psychologically  and physically when isolated from their own species.  When Sheila first e-mailed Bat World, Pongo had been in quarantine with her in England for a few weeks.  If he were to stay in England he would have to remain quarantined, in a solitary enclosure, for an additional five months. Pongo also faced the risk of  permanent quarantine in the UK.  It was imperative for Pongo  to obtain passage back to the US as quickly as possible. With the help of the Kent Bat Group and the Bat Conservation Trust in London,  we immediately went into action to bring Pongo home.

Our efforts soon involved veterinarians and government agencies on both sides of the Atlantic. Within 10 days we had full permission to bring Pongo back. But a huge problem still existed - how to actually get Pongo home. His small size (less than 1/2 ounce) meant that he would have to be flown on a direct flight or his health could deteriorate. Airlines that were approached by the UK bat groups declined to help. The difficulties in finding an airline to fly him home led to fears the bat would have to stay in the UK. As luck would have it, Bat World Vice President Dottie Hyatt happens to be a former American Airlines employee. Dottie made sure that Pongo's unique situation touched the hearts of several officials at American Airlines. Within 24 hours Pongo's flight back to the USA was not only secured, it was completely donated.
Above: Bat World Vice President Dottie Hyatt and husband John educating employees of the AA cargo station about the importance of bats

Dr. Colin Catto, Director of Conservation for the Bat Conservation Trust, said: "We are extremely grateful to American Airlines for their larger pair of wings to help Pongo return home."     
After a 12 hour flight, Pongo's plane landed safe and secure. Dottie arrived at Dallas/Fort Worth airport in advance but was informed at the cargo station that she would have an additional 4-hour wait. Airline policy dictated that everything in cargo, animals included, is unloaded only after all passengers have left the plane. Bats have extremely fast metabolisms and dehydrate quickly. An additional 4-hour wait, on top of the 12 hours Pongo had already gone without fluids, could result in a life-or-death circumstance. Dottie patiently explained these realities to the cargo staff, throwing in the fact that a direct flight had been donated by AA officials to insure Pongo's safety, and pointing out that several TV stations were there to film his arrival. It would be a terrible shame if the 4-hour delay caused Pongo to deteriorate (or worse). An exception was immediately granted and a special car was sent to retrieve Pongo even before passengers were allowed to disembark! 

Above right: Pongo (facing) tucked into a roosting pouch with his new roostmates. Sadly, a wrist injury prevents him from being releasable as we had hoped.

 

NOTE: To sponsor Pongo through the Adopt Me! button, please enter the appropriate amount (see list below). If the Adopt-a-Bat is a gift or a school sponsorship, please remember to include the name you want listed on the adoption certificate.

NNew members & gift adoptions - $35.00
International new members & gift adoptions - $38.00
Existing members & school/class adoptions - $25.00

To sponsor Pongo by fax or mail, go to our Adopt-a-Bat/Membership form.

Please allow up to two weeks for delivery of your sponsorship package. RUSH orders are available (at no extra handling charge) by calling 940-325-3404 (please leave a message; calls are returned as promptly as possible).

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