World’s Oldest Bat Who Won Hearts Worldwide Has Sadly Died

After being featured on an animal blog, Statler won the hearts of animal lovers worldwide. Sadly, he has now passed away.

Back in February, we told you about a sweet, older bat that was winning the hearts of animal lovers worldwide with her assisted flights. The Bat World Sanctuary located in Weatherford, Texas is about 30 minutes from Fort Worth and houses bats who have been orphaned, mistreated, or can't be released into the wild, per the website. The sanctuary has plenty of amazing critters they feature on their Facebook and Instagram page but the overall favorite by a landslide has to be 33-year-old Statler.

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Statler is an Indian Flying Fox who had a seriously rough life before he moved to greener pastures at Bat World Sanctuary. Statler was born in a zoo in South Carolina in 1987 and no one knows exactly everything he went through. When the mammal arrived at Bat World Sanctuary, he had a few scars and a missing eye.

Statler was sent to the Bat World Sanctuary's geriatric ward in 2018, and since then he's been living a good life. Statler is the oldest bat living in captivity and can no longer fly on his own. Instead, zookeepers assist Statler with taking daily flights around the facility. Statler gets to lay comfortably in his caretaker's hands and he flaps his wings to simulate soaring through the air. The activity is not only stimulating for the bat, it's absolutely adorable to watch. The sanctuary began recording Statler's flights

Since Statler arrived at the sanctuary, he's been living the good life being pampered by zookeepers. Statler is the oldest bat living in captivity and can no longer fly on his own. Instead, zookeepers assist Statler with taking daily flights around the facility. Statler gets to lay comfortably in his caretaker's hands and he flaps his wings to simulate soaring through the air. The activity is not only stimulating for the bat, it's absolutely adorable to watch.

The sanctuary began recording Statler's flights and they quickly went viral, with people all over the world showing their love for the sweet bat. Sadly, the animal sanctuary announced this week that the beloved Staler has passed away:

You can see more videos to fondly remember Statler on the World Bat Sanctuary Facebook page, Instagram, and through their website. Help support the Bat World Sanctuary by donating on their website or purchasing some Bat World merchandise.