Last year the Lubee Bat Conservancy in Gainesville, Florida
welcomed twelve bat pups, including the rare birth of twins by
mother Variable Flying Fox "Charisma." This organization is
dedicated to conserving "fruit and nectar" bats because these
animals are vital to pollination and seed dispersal in many of
the world's jungles. The evolutionary origins of bats are a
subject of much debate but they are most certainly NOT flying
rodents. Once thought to be more closely related to shrews and
hedgehogs, recent genetic evidence suggests bats may be more
closely related to carnivores like bears, dogs and cats. A Large
Flying Fox pup clings to a stuffed animal Large Flying Fox pup
and mom. Above photo credits: D. LeBlanc / Lubee Bat Conservancy
Rare Variable Flying Fox pup twins with mom. Photo credit: S.
Mulder, Lubee Bat Conservancy