In a record-breaking journey, a bat flew from London to
Russia, nearly 2,018 kilometres, and died after being attacked by a cat.  

The female bat of the Nathusius’ pipistrelle type, the bat
was the size of a human thumb and was discovered in Pskov region of Russia. The
bat had a “London Zoo” marking on his wing and had been rescued by a bat
rehabilitation group. The bat was later killed by a cat.

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The bat’s journey, spread over 2,000 kilometres, is the
furthest recorded journey by a bat from Britain across Europe, beating all
known British records.

The pipistrelle bat, which weighed nearly 8 grams, was
discovered by Russian resident Svetlana Lapina at a small village of Molgino,
according to the BCC. The discovery was subsequently reported to the Bat
Conservation Trust in the UK.

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According to Bat Conservation Trust head Losa Worledge, “This
is a remarkable journey and the longest one we know of any bat from Britain
across Europe. What an Olympian.”

Worledge further said that the bat’s journey is an important
piece in the puzzle on bat migration. “The movements of Nathusius’ pipistrelles
around the UK and between the UK and the continent remain largely mysterious,”
Worledge said.

The bat who travelled over 2,000 kilometres had a marking on
its wing after being ringed in 2016 in London by bat recorder Brian Briggs,
reports the BBC.

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“This is very exciting. It’s great to be able to contribute
to the international conservation work to protect these extraordinary animals
and learn more about their fascinating lives,” Briggs was quoted saying.

This bat’s record is only topped by another bat from Europe,
a Nathusius’ pipistrelle that migrated from Latvia to Spain in 2019, a
record-setting 2,224km.