SAVE THE BATS
Campaign

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is important

Bats are mammals with their forelimbs uniquely adapted as wings, they are the only mammals capable of true and sustained flight. Bats are even more mobile than most birds, flying with their long spread-out fingers covered with a thin membrane.

They are one of the most important groups of mammals in terms of ecosystem functionality. This is particularly important under the harsh impacts the world is witnessing under widespread deforestation and habitat disturbance. Bats are often the best means of dispersing seeds and increasing the rate of recovery in these situations.

The Problem

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has assessed 1332 species of bats. Information on bat populations is often cumbersome to collect, thereby proving very difficult to identify changes in population size and dynamics.

In many parts of the world, bats are considered labelled pests or carry stigmas in harmful myths and can be mistreated. Larger bats may also be hunted for their meat, which is consumed in some parts of the world. Habitat loss is a major threat to bat species globally. Deforestation for farming, mining, and other human interference is having a significant impact on many bat populations since they depend on trees and caves to roost in. The homes of these species are also threatened, thanks to inappropriate tourism and the mining of bat droppings, which are used as fertilizer.

An unpleasant fungal disease called white-nose syndrome threatens bat populations in the US and Canada. Bat populations are also threatened by the rise in wind turbines, which cause many bat deaths as the mammals fly into the blades. Cats (both domestic and feral) pose a further threat to bats. They are renowned for predating on bats and are known to wait outside a roosting site and pick off bats one by one as they fly out to feed.

Environmental Consequences

Nearly one-third of bats are listed as threatened. 23 bat species as critically endangered, meaning they face an imminent risk of extinction, having fewer than 250 adults remaining. 84 other bat species are endangered, while another 110 species are considered vulnerable.

The “most endangered” species is estimated to be the Lamotte’s Roundleaf Bat. Six individuals were known in 2004, living in caves on Nimba mountain, threatened both by hunters looking for bats to eat and miners looking for iron ore.

If a population suffers a crash, for example, due to a cull or natural disaster, it can take a long time to recover, which can prove problematic given bats have a low reproduction rate, with each female typically having one pup per year.

Bats have an important environmental role, representing a vital element maintaining ecosystems all over the world. They are key to seed dispersal and pollination and, particularly in some parts of the world – such as tropical and desert ecosystems – are vital to maintaining the abundance and diversity of plants necessary for a healthy ecosystem. Many plants are reliant exclusively on pollination by bats for survival.

Fruit-eating bats are important for local economies; without them, fruits could not be produced in such quantities. Where areas of rainforest have been damaged, no other groups of animals are as efficient at restoring the habitat as bats. They are particularly important for dispersing pioneer plant species – those that form the first layer of vegetation in cleared areas. Bats defecate when they are flying and their droppings also provide excellent fertilizer for plants.

Insectivorous bats also hold important roles in ecosystems. They consume huge quantities of insects and keep the numbers down, helping reduce the impact of insect pests on agriculture. It is thought that in the US, bats save upwards of $3.7 billion per year in crop damage and pesticide use.

Bats are found all over the world. Their functions are clear and the extinction of bat species can have significant, irreversible impacts on ecosystems globally.

Possible Solutions

Given the long list of threats bats face, conservation initiatives are imperative to reverse and rebuild damaged populations. Organizations all over the world are working to protect groups of bat species in different regions; the effectiveness of conservation will vary depending on the region and the severity of threats faced.

The reversal of habitat loss is key to saving bats. Bat surveys should be undertaken before altering an area of forest or caves, and this should be implemented around the world on a local scale. Initiatives are also underway to reduce harmful tourism activities in bat caves and encourage the use of bat boxes in forests and gardens.

Unfortunately, a solution has yet to be found to combat white-nose syndrome, so resources here are being targeted at monitoring and scientific research into the disease and its spread. To prevent fatalities caused by wind turbines, conservation organizations are campaigning to change policy and regulation to minimize the impact of these farms on bats. Various new technologies have been developed to prevent bats from flying into turbines, such as ultrasound deterrents.

Elsewhere, there are campaigns to change the behaviors of cat owners. Keeping cats inside at dawn and dusk can have a significant positive impact on bat populations. There are also methods to reduce outdoor cats’ predation impact on bats, such as attaching bells to collars.

WSF Activities and initiatives

In 2022 we start a collaboration with Bat World Sanctuary, they are on the front line to end the mistreatment of bats. Each year they rescue hundreds of bats who might otherwise die. Lifetime sanctuary is given to non-releasable bats, including those that are orphaned, injured, and rescued from the exotic pet trade, zoos, and research facilities.

This project consists of distributing bat packs through libraries in the United States so that teachers from schools in the area can access them to make their students (ages 5 to 10) aware of the importance of bats.

The Bat Pack would include several artifacts, activities, and literature to assist the curriculum and hopefully, get kids excited about bats. Along with our physical bat packs, we plan to create a virtual downloadable version containing activities, literature, and other online educational material that will be accessible to educators all across the world. The goal of this project would be to educate the next generation on the importance of bats and their conservation, fostering a love for bats from the start and correcting the myths that have plagued bats for far too long.

Call to action

To help save this diverse group of animals, contribute to one of the many worthy bat-based conservation programs. Look up bat conservation in your local area and there is bound to be some important conservation work underway, or else check out the work of Bat Conservation International.
Why not write to your local council or energy company to ask what they are doing to help protect bats? Show decision-makers that you care about these incredible species, and they should too.
Sign Friend of the Earth Change.org petition and choose only Friend of the Earth certified products to contribute to bats conservation. Support Friend of the Earth’s efforts by donating for bat conservation.