Tiny rescued bat goes viral for trying similar to legendary Disney Pixar star
A rescued Australian tube-nosed bat has gone viral for its toothy grin, with social media fans comparing the adorable critter to the Disney character Mater
A rescued bat has gone viral for looking like Cars character Mater(Image: @jasmine_vink/Instagram)
An adorable bat has sent the internet into a frenzy after social media users spotted its uncanny resemblance to a legendary Disney Pixar star.
The tiny tube-nosed bat, which was saved from a brush with death, is being hailed as the real-life double of Tow-Mater from the hit movie Cars. The creature first made waves when Australian ecologist and wildlife photographer Jasmine Vink shared a snap of the patient she had been nursing back to health. The bat had been found in May 2025, tangled in a dangerous barbed wire fence.
While the rescue happened nearly a year ago, the photo has recently gained a second life online as fans obsess over the bat’s buck-toothed smile and wide-eyed expression.
Reflecting on the rescue, Jasmine said the bat faced “a significant risk of shock and damage to her wings.” Posting on Instagram, she wrote: “I’ve been hesitant to be optimistic about her chances of release, but she has been flying and hovering up a storm. She has a couple of minor issues to resolve still, but I’m feeling far more confident she will soon return to the wild where she belongs.”
It didn’t take long for the internet to link the critter’s goofy grin to Radiator Springs’ favourite tow truck. One user on X said: “I’m head over heels for that silly little face!” Another posted: “What a little cutie, oh my god.”
Some eagle-eyed Disney fans even pointed out the irony that Mater actually wore a vampire costume in a Cars short film, making the comparison spookily accurate.
However, not everyone was on board with the Mater theory as some gamers argued the bat was actually a dead ringer for Crash Bandicoot.
The Eastern tube-nosed bat might look like a cartoon, but it plays a vital role in the Australian ecosystem.
The Mater lookalike is just the latest animal to achieve celebrity status for its bizarre appearance.
It follows hot on the heels of a balloon-like tortoiseshell kitten that went viral recently due to a rare medical condition that left it looking inflated.
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