Johnny Depp's adopted bat on road to recovery | Jackie Sparrow | Megabat

Johnny Depp's adopted bat on road to recovery

Jackie Sparrow, the prematurely born bat that was adopted by Johnny Depp, is almost ready to fly and will one day be released back into the wild.

Little Jackie caught Depp's attention while he was on the Gold Coast filming the latest Pirates of the Caribbean movie.

Director of the Australian Bat League Trish Wimberley said the young bat's condition had improved since Depp came to visit the clinic.
Jackie Sparrow takes a trip down memory lane. Photo: Dean Moran Photography

"She's now hanging and flapping and trying to fly," she said.

"Her ears are bigger than her wings I think, she's a little sweetheart."

Young Jackie celebrated Father's Day hanging in a frame with a photo of Depp behind her.

Once Jackie has grown strong enough to fly and begins to get her own food she will be released into the wild.

Ms Wimberley, who provides the emergency care for inured, sick and orphaned bats, was incredibly thankful for the profile Depp's adoption had brought to bats.

"It certainly lifts the profile of bats because there was a lot of people who knew Johnny but didn't know bats, and didn't know that he actually loved bats," she said.

"So what that has done is actually brought awareness around bats as a species.

"They are now touching base with me on Facebook and they're learning a hell of a lot."

You can follow Jackie's progress on the Australian Bat Clinic & Wildlife Trauma Centre's Facebook page.