I just found this footage misfiled with some other footage earlier this year. It's not the best video which is probably why it was forgotten until now, but since we're all sick of the little ones dying, it seems a good time to pursue some more happiness on this channel.
When watching little Sequoia after giving her a new toy on the airer to hang onto while her favourite Puppy was being washed, I discovered Sequoia has a "lick button" when the back of her head is massaged; rub her there and she does the most gorgeous long tongued lickies.
Sequoia is a Grey-Headed Flying-Fox who is 7-8 weeks old now, and is growing up and becoming more interactive, and since Hippo has gone to another carer Sequoia can now explore and feel more comfortable. Hippo was causing emotional issues with Sequoia, so the 2 girls had to be separated. Without Hippo's presence Sequoia is more able to be herself. She just ignores Guinness and he mostly ignores her.
3 weeks till Sequoia goes to minicreche and 5 weeks till she goes to creche proper.
When the hand raised babies are 3 months old, they go into a creche, where they join other orphans and form a group. At this stage they'd be separating from this batty mums and be becoming more independent in the colony. In creche, at this age, they learn batty etiquette and how to live in a batty society. They shrug off their human mums and want to be with the other batties. When they are emotionally and physically ready, and uninjured, and around 4-5 months old, they’re put into a release cage under a colony and they can integrate into the colony and fly out with the wild bats. If they can’t find enough food, they can always come back to the cage for a feed. Support feeding is put up on the outside of the cage for as long as they are coming back and eating it. When the colony flies out for winter, they have fully integrated and fly out with them.
