Why and how we should to protect bats?
INTRODUCTION Bats are not only fascinating mammals but they are of great importance in nature. Bats have been on this planet for over 50 -60 million years. There are between 950 to 1, 000 species, living on all continents except Antarctica. The small micro bats eat mostly insects whereas mega bats, the larger-sized variety, feed mostly on fruit. Sometimes, both small and large species eat flowers and drink nectar. materials against pests, which in turn poisons the bats who consume them Disturbance of colonies, particularly by people exploring caves in winter; human presence disturbs hybernating bats, causing bats to lose their energy and leading to exhaustion and death Extermination — millions of bats are killed due to myths, superstitions and misinformation Hunting — a large number of bats are used for commercial purposes, such as sales to museums, biomedical research institutions, or in some Third World countries as food In the last few decades bat populations have been declining at alarming rates worldwide. Bats remain the most endangered land mammal in the United States. 1 The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources listed 53 bat species as endangered and at least that many more species at risk in 2000. 2
BATS ON THE DECLINE ü Humans are the main cause of bat declines and extinctions. The causes for decline include: ü habitat loss through such activities as deforestation, elimination of foraging areas, roost and cave destruction
REASONS FOR PROTECTION BALANCE IN NATURE üBATS ARE THE PRIMARY PREDATORS OF NIGHT-FLYING INSECTS, PLAYING A VITAL ROLE IN MAINTAINING THEIR BALANCE IN NATURE. ONE BAT EATS 1/3 OF ITS BODY WEIGHT AND IS ABLE TO CATCH 600 MOSQUITOES IN ONE HOUR. THEIR INSTINCT TO LIVE IN COLONIES ENSURES THAT LARGE NUMBERS OF BATS WILL LIVE OR RELOCATE TO AREAS WHERE THERE ARE LOTS OF INSECTS, KEEPING INSECT POPULATIONS DOWN. AND DIFFERENT BAT SPECIES HUNT AT DIFFERENT HEIGHTS, PREYING ON DIFFERENT KINDS OF INSECTS. THE BIG-SIZED BATS EAT VARIOUS MOTHS AND WORMS THAT ARE HARMFUL TO AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY. THE SMALL-SIZED BATS EAT MOSQUITOES AND OTHER DOUBLE-WINGED INSECTS - - CARRIERS OF DISEASES SUCH AS MALARIA AND LEISHMANIA. THIS IS ONE REASON TO PROTECT ALL SPECIES OF BATS.
HELPING THE WORLD’S FLORA üBATS THAT EAT FRUIT OR FLOWERS DISPERSE SEEDS AND POLLINATE FLOWERS OF MORE THAN 500 SPECIES OF TROPICAL TREES AND SHRUBS. WITH THEIR HELP, HUMANS ARE SUPPLIED WITH A LARGE CROP OF BANANAS, CASHEWS, AVOCADOS, BALSA WOOD AND TEQUILA. IF IT WERE NOT FOR BATS, THE HARVEST OF SUCH TROPICAL FRUIT AS BANANAS AND PINEAPPLES WOULD DECREASE BY 60%
BATS MYTHS üBATS DO NOT HAVE A HIGH INCIDENCE OF RABIES (LESS THAN 0. 5%). BUT IF A BAT ALLOWS YOU TO APPROACH, IT IS PROBABLY SICK AND SHOULD BE AVOIDED. üBATS FLYING OVER YOUR HEAD ARE NOT TRYING TO ATTACK YOU. THEY ARE CATCHING INSECTS THAT ARE ATTRACTED TO YOU. üVAMPIRE BATS PREFER FARM ANIMALS SUCH AS CATTLE OR BIRDS TO HUMANS. üAND THE LAST AND MOST IMPORTANT: BATS NEVER GET TANGLED IN PEOPLE’S HAIR!
BATS CONSERVATION üMORE THAN 50% OF BATS DO NOT SURVIVE INFANCY. A FEMALE USUALLY HAS ONLY ONE OFFSPRING A YEAR, SO POPULATION RECOVERY IS SLOW. DECLINING POPULATIONS CAN ONLY BE STOPPED THROUGH TOUGH MEASURES. PUBLIC EDUCATION IS ALSO IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES, THROUGH SUCH EFFORTS AS FINANCING CONSERVATION-ORIENTED STUDIES AND DISTRIBUTION OF SCIENTIFIC LITERATURE ABOUT BATS. I HOPE MORE PEOPLE WILL BECOME INTERESTED IN BATS AND TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT THEM. FOR EXAMPLE, ONE WAY OF HELPING SOME SPECIES OF BATS IS TO BUILD AN ARTIFICIAL HOLLOW TO SHELTER BAT COLONIES. COMPARED TO NATURAL HOLLOWS, THE ARTIFICIAL VERSION HAS LESS PARASITES AND HUMIDITY. THIS MAKES THE CONDITIONS BETTER FOR SURVIVAL, ESPECIALLY FOR NEWBORN BATS. üBATS ARE CREATURES OF THE DARK BUT IT DOESN’T MEAN THAT WE SHOULD LEAVE THEIR PROBLEMS IN THE DARK AS WELL.
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