Tiggywinkles Wildlife Hospital saves 'severely injured' bat

Tiggywinkles Wildlife Hospital in Haddenham is well-known as one of the most advanced facilities of its kind in the world, using the latest technologies and specialist training to provide free treatment to animals of all shapes and sizes. 

Steve Smith, sole charge vet at Tiggywinkles, attracted fresh praise from social media commentators last week when he gave them insight into a delicate operation he had undertaken on a long-eared bat that had been brought in with severe wing injuries.

Alongside images of the bat and Steve's highly technical procedure to repair the large tears in its wing membranes, a spokesperson for the hospital wrote: "This lovely long-eared bat came into us with severe injuries to his wings. 

"Our vet, Steve, assessed the injuries and decided the best course of treatment was to operate. Very small holes can sometimes be left to repair themselves over time, but these were big tears, and so began a very delicate operation.

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"Helped by the surgical loupes that magnify and illuminate his work, Steve was able to suture the membranes closed and the operation as a success."

They added that, as of Friday, October 20, the bat remained in the treatment facility, and close monitoring of its wings would ensure it had returned to full flight capacity "long before" being released back into the wild.

Commenters on the Facebook post praised Tiggywinkles for the "brilliant work" of its staff, with one person writing: "It's lovely to know that all creatures big and small stand a chance with your great skill and care".