Konstantin Deininger
Konstantin Deininger
Claudia Hirtenfelder
Claudia Hirtenfelder

Vienna has the potential to be a great habitat for many wild urban animals. Unfortunately, many people are unaware of the diverse species cohabiting the city with them. As a result, there is little awareness of these animals’ lives or their well-being. Even worse, some wild urban animals, like pigeons, are often perceived as vermin, much like rats.

Fortunately, in the heart of Vienna, a bat sanctuary provides refuge for injured bats from up to eight species, fostering hope for multispecies cohabitation. Adjacent to it, in the inner courtyard, a home for city pigeons has also been established.

Members of the Vienna Animal Studies group—including researchers from geography, philosophy, and economics—will gather at the bat sanctuary to explore the relationships between bats, pigeons, and urban life. Their discussions will serve as inspiration for scented candles and poetry.

Also, the project serves as a basis for developing a podcast series which will explore the philosophy of hope in relation to urban animals.

Bat

Bats