Expat in Singapore Rescues Baby Bat, Houses it in a Ma Bo Lor Mee Container

SINGAPORE: French expat Amandine Honvault (@new_to_singapore on TikTok and Instagram) was on her way to breakfast on April 2 when she noticed something unusual—birds were crowding around a tiny, moving creature in the grass near the fitness corner of an HDB flat in Whampoa East.

Curious, Amandine approached and discovered a baby bat lying helpless on the ground, surrounded by birds. Acting quickly, she scared the birds away and covered the fragile creature with her sweater for protection. “We really tried to be careful handling the baby bat because it looked so fragile,” she told The Independent Singapore, adding that the experience encouraged her to learn more about bats and overcome the common fear of them carrying diseases.

The baby bat, whom Amandine described as “really adorable and just looking for his mum,” crawled into her sweater, seeking warmth and comfort. She immediately called National Parks for assistance, and while waiting for them to arrive, she took the bat home.

Once home, Amandine built a cozy makeshift shelter for the bat using a Ma Bo Lor Mee container from a food court, even placing a satay stick inside for the bat to hang from. She affectionately named the bat “Ma Bo” after its temporary home.

Through her research, Amandine learned that the baby bat may have lost its grip on its mother while flying. She marveled at the bat’s resilience, saying, “We couldn’t get our eyes off of it. We let it rest while having our breakfast.”

Living in Singapore for four years, Amandine praised National Parks for their swift response, especially on a weekend. They arrived within two hours and confirmed that the bat was in good health. National Parks later informed Amandine that they would try to release the bat where it was found, hoping its mother would return for it.

Amandine shared that the key to helping wildlife is to follow professional advice. “Having the advice of a professional was really helpful, and I’m glad they reached fast and didn’t let this animal just be by himself,” she said, appreciating the care given to Ma Bo.