Woman Accidentally Brings Bat Home from Zoo Visit

A visitor to Karlsruhe Zoo unknowingly transported a bat back to her home, mistaking it initially for a Halloween prank.

Elina Öfele, visiting Karlsruhe Zoo with her son, discovered a bat clinging to her clothing after returning home.
Initially thinking it was a Halloween joke, Öfele realized the bat was real when it moved and nibbled her hand.
She consulted a bat expert and cared for the bat overnight with honey water and banana in a warm bathroom.
The next day, Öfele's husband and son safely returned the bat to the zoo, where it was confirmed to be in good health.
This incident is unprecedented since the bat cave's opening in 2015, which houses hundreds of Brillenblattnase bats.