Lubee Bat Conservancy

Lubee Bat Conservancy is a nonprofit organization in Gainesville, Florida.[1] The organization was founded in 1989 by Luis F. Bacardi as a center for the research, conservation, and breeding of endangered animals; it later narrowed its focus solely to bats, particularly megabats.[2]

Entrance to Lubee Bat Conservancy

Lubee Bat Conservancy is an Association of Zoos and Aquariums-certified institution.

History

Lubee Bat Conservancy has its roots in an organization founded in 1989, the Lubee Foundation, Inc. The Lubee Foundation was created by Luis F. Bacardi of the Bacardi spirits company.[3] The name "Lubee" was derived from the name of "Luis Bacardi". In the early years of the organization, it was home to several animal species other than bats, such as parrots, monkeys, and ostriches.[4] The Lubee Foundation was used as a temporary holding facility for animals on their way to Disney's Animal Kingdom.[1]

The Bacardi family and business had a special interest in bats, as bats were the inspiration for its logo. When Luis Bacardi died on 12 September 1991, the Lubee Foundation shifted emphasis to focus on bats, rehoming its non-bat species.[4]

Facilities

Lubee Bat Conservancy is situated on a 110 acres (45 ha) ranch, approximately 10 mi (16 km) north of the city of Gainesville, Florida.[4] It has facilities designed for the maintenance of captive bats, with temperature-controlled areas for roosting and outdoor flight enclosures. It also has medical equipment to manage the bats' needs, such as an examination room equipped for anesthesia, isolation areas, and a recovery room.[1]

Species housed

Lubee Bat Conservancy is home to more than 200 megabats of several species.[1] Megabat species housed at Lubee include:[5]

With the dissolution of the Organization for Bat Conservation (OBC) in early 2018, Lubee announced that they would take on 17 of OBC's bats, including two species of microbat:[6]

References
  1. Aumick, Amy (14 May 2017). "Bats headline their own festival in Gainesville". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
  2. "What is Lubee? | History". Lubee Bat Conservancy. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
  3. "In Tribute. Luis Facundo Bacardi: 1944–1991". Bat Conservation International. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
  4. Morrisey, Brittany Ann (15 November 2013). "Conservancy hoping to change bat misconceptions". The Gainesville Sun. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
  5. "Our Bats". Lubee Bat Conservancy. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
  6. "Lubee Bat Conservancy". The Amazing Give. Retrieved 13 September 2018.

29.8252°N 82.3405°W / 29.8252; -82.3405

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