Our Mission
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- Providing permanent sanctuary for non-releasable bats.
- The protection and conservation of wild bat colonies.
- Promoting the humane treatment of bats in captivity.
- Educating the public about the importance of bats.
- Training animal care professionals on the proper treatment of bats
Click to view our most recent IRS Determination Letter
EIN: 75-2503642
Bat World Sanctuary
299 High Point Rd
Weatherford, TX 76088
Our Philosophy
We believe that great animal rescue organizations are judged not just by the scale of the work that they do, but by the impact that work has on the lives of the animals they rescue. We actively work with zoos, researchers and animal shelters to offer an alternative to death. Many of the bats in our care have lived terrible lives before coming to us and we provide the security and privacy they need to recuperate from their previous existence. We firmly believe that all living beings exist for their own reasons and have a right to a peaceful and happy life, just as humans do.
On that same note, the staff at Bat World Sanctuary has adopted a plant based diet and we only serve plant based foods at events. Over 98% of the animals that suffer and die at the hands of humans are farmed animals, and animal agriculture is one of the leading threats to wildlife habitat. It is one of the largest sources of worldwide greenhouse gas emissions, causes habitat fragmentation and destruction, results in loss of biodiversity and species extinction, wastes huge amounts of water, and pollutes air and waterways for wildlife.
Our History
Bat World is the legacy of a small bat, found injured on a hot Texas sidewalk in the summer of 1988 by Amanda Lollar. Thinking bats were vermin at the time, but not wanting the tiny animal to suffer, she scooted the bat onto a newspaper with the toe of her shoe. The bat was carried back to the furniture store that Amanda and her Mother owned and placed into a box with a small dish of water. Amanda found information at the local library about the benefits of bats, so she took the tiny creature home in hopes of healing its wing and setting it free. Unfortunately, the injuries were permanent, so “Sunshine” stayed on. During her short lifetime in captivity, Sunshine taught Amanda the enchanting language of bats and sparked her indelible love for this remarkable species. In 1991, Amanda chronicled Sunshine’s poignant story in her book, The Bat in My Pocket, A Memorable Friendship. In 1994, Amanda founded Bat World Sanctuary, the organization’s first sanctuary for non-releasable bats. Hundreds of bats from around the world have found permanent refuge at this indoor, natural habitat facility. These non-releasable bats include those that have been used in research, retired from zoos, orphaned, permanently injured or confiscated from the exotic pet trade. Bat World is located just outside of Cool, Texas and serves as headquarters for the organization. Bat World Sanctuary has been involved in numerous conservation and rescue efforts over the last three decades, including presenting seminars to wildlife rehabilitation associations as well as collaborating with the Bat Conservation International, North American Universities, the US Center of Disease Control, Idaho Fish and Game, Texas Parks and Wildlife and various state agencies throughout the US.
