A female Lyle's Flying Fox caressing her circa two-months old young. Female bats give birth to usually only one young, and will carry it, even during short flights.

By enclosing the young in its wings, the mother protects it from falling. However, when they go on their nightly foraging trips, they leave their young at the roost.

When she opens a wing to cool off on a hot day, she ensures her young is secure by creating a safety net with her other wing, unfolding it underneath, whilst clinging on with her thumb.