Students will be able to hang out with some furry creatures at the Hippodrome State Theatre this weekend.
Brian Pope, director of the Lubee Bat Conservancy, will bring two bats to the theatre’s cinema from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday to raise awareness for bat extinction at the first “Go Batty” event.
Violet, a 14-inch-long Variable bat from Southeast Asia, and Edgar, a critically endangered Rodrigues fruit bat from the island of Rodrigues, will be hanging around the cinema to help spread awareness about their native lands, breeds and batty lives.
Pope said the event is a great opportunity for his organization, and he wants to teach people about the intricate lives bats lead.
The event will take place on the first floor of the cinema, and it will only be able to hold about 100 people. The cinema will provide a cool, dark place for guests to learn about and see the bats up close and personal, said Shirley Lasseter, cinema director.
“I want people to learn and see how cool these bats are, and see how awesome the conservancy is,” she said.
The cinema will ask for a $5 donation but will not turn anyone away.
The Lubee Bat Conservancy, at 1309 NW 192nd Ave., is home to about 208 bats.
