Witness an extraordinary event at a British zoo as a rare Livingstone’s fruit bat gives birth while hanging upside down. The heart-stopping moment captured on camera shows Selene, a critically endangered species, delivering her pup while suspended by just the umbilical cord for 11 suspenseful seconds.
The remarkable footage, filmed at Northumberland Zoo, unfolded after Selene exhibited signs of discomfort and grooming behavior, indicating her impending labor. Keepers, unaware of her pregnancy until hours before, were surprised by the sudden onset of labor.
Livingstone’s fruit bats are critically endangered, with only 1,200 remaining in the wild and a mere 100 in captivity. Selene’s labor showcased her instinctual use of gravity, flipping herself over and hanging by her thumbs to aid the birthing process before successfully delivering her pup.
Following the birth, Selene inverted herself again, allowing the newborn—whose gender is yet to be determined—to cling to her. As experienced mothers reduce the time their pups spend suspended, the newborn instinctively maneuvered towards Selene’s teat, located under her armpit, for nourishment and safety.
What astonished keepers even more was the immediate assistance from another female bat named Sima. Sima rushed to aid Selene in cleaning the newborn, showcasing an unprecedented “alloparental” care behavior never before observed in this species.
Zoo Curator Maxine Bradley expressed the awe of witnessing such a rare event and capturing it on camera for the world to share. She emphasized the zoo’s mission to change public perceptions about bats, highlighting their adorable features like fox-like faces, large ears, and endearing eyes to encourage visitors to appreciate and admire these fascinating creatures.
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