With the first rains starting, you might have noticed our flora is beginning to produce fruits and there are more flying insects about, especially in the evenings. Along with these come the bats, feeding on ripened fruits and swooping low to take insects on the wing.
With this in mind I was interested to read a recent BBC’s Science online article, entitled Covid: Why bats are not to blame, say scientists written by BBC Environment correspondent, Helen Briggs. Due to the current worldwide pandemic, bats are being mistreated, threatened and even killed. In her article, Helen explores why these mammals are so misunderstood:
“The precise origin of the virus that has wreaked such havoc across the world has not been pinned down. But the vast majority of scientists agree that it crossed into humans from an animal species, most likely a bat. That doesn’t mean bats are to blame; it’s our increasing interference with these wild creatures that’s at the root of the problem.
Outbreaks of emerging diseases have been linked to human destruction of nature. When forests or grasslands are razed to graze cattle, to grow soy or to build roads and settlements, wild animals are forced ever closer to humans and livestock, giving viruses an opportunity to jump ship.
‘It is undeniable that bats, such as many other animal groups, present real risks as hosts for potentially dangerous diseases,’ says Ricardo Rocha of the University of Porto, Portugal.
But he points out that when you control for the number of bat species (a whopping 1,400 or more), the proportion of human-infecting viruses is similar to other groups, such as birds, domestic animals and rodents.
Scientists estimate that three out of every four new or emerging infectious diseases in people come from animals. A warning of the dangers came in 2002, when the mysterious illness, Sars, emerged in China, killing almost 800 people around the world.”
“But rather than blaming one species or another, we need to reassess our relationship with the natural world, says Dr Rocha. He points out that bats are vital for healthy ecosystems and human well-being. Bats suppress insects that swarm over crops. They pollinate plants in the tropics, such as durian fruits. And they disperse the seeds of trees found in rainforests, helping in the fight against climate change.
Scientists warn that a few misguided actions could have serious consequences for vulnerable bat species and even increase the risk of disease spillover.”
#Don’t Blame Bats
Bats and humans have lived together for centuries, providing mutual good, with bats playing an integral part of keeping our ecosystem healthy. Experts have launched the campaign, #Don’t Blame Bats, to dispel unfounded fears and myths. They say bats are some of the most undervalued animals on the planet with fears and myths about bats intensifying in this time of COVID-19.
Facts about bats
Bats are the only mammal capable of true flight
Insect-eating bats may save US farmers $3.7bn each year by reducing crop damage
Hundreds of plant species rely on bats for pollination
Bats are under unprecedented threat from habitat destruction, climate change, hunting and other pressures
For more bat facts then check out Bat Conservation International’s website – www.batcon.org
You can also find out lots of information on ‘Bats in Zambia’s’ Facebook Page.
Dr Teague O’Mara is today’s Bats Without Borders Webinar speaker. He will be talking about Connecting a Continent: tracking local and migratory movements of straw-coloured fruit bats.
This time of year, Kasanka National Park becomes the temporary home to millions of straw-coloured fruit bats. It is the world’s largest mammal migration! They begin to arrive just before the rains and the last bats fly out of the park around the New Year.
You can catch Dr Teague’s talk by pre-registering on the Bats Without Borders website – www.batswithoutborders.org You can also keep up to date with all their news on their Facebook Page.
If you would like to find out more about these amazing mammals and how you can to view them this coming Bat Season at Kasanka National Park, then check out their website and Facebook pages.
UK’s online Woodland Symposium 2020
The Bat Conservation Trust (UK) is running an online Woodland Symposium which will take place on 19th and 20th November. Although it is UK focused there are lots of lessons for us across Africa, so why not join in?
This two day online event is aimed at bat workers, landowners, ecologists and the woodland/forestry industry. They are delighted to welcome two keynote speakers to this symposium – Mike Render and George Peterken -and there will be additional talks and discussion panels along with specific networking sessions using breakout rooms.
The event will take place on Zoom and there is still time for you to sign up. For more details visit: www.bats.org.uk
This year Global Big Day (GBD) is taking place on Saturday 17th October. This dedicated day gives bird watchers and enthusiasts a 24 hour opportunity to celebrate birds, both in their own gardens and in the wild, and is open to everyone around the world.
One of GBD’s aims is to have more than 25,000 people submit eBird checklists on 17th October and you are invited to join in. They recognise that COVID-19 continues to impact local communities and so they are encouraging everyone to put their own safety first, by following local health guidelines. You can bird watch from home or in one of our protected areas and National Parks.
You do not have to be a Bird Expert to join in
To join in all you have to do is watch birds on the 17th October – it’s that simple! The day runs from midnight to midnight and you do not have to be a bird expert or spend the whole day outside – you can just watch for birds for only 10 minutes in your garden if you wish.
Since May 2018 Zambia has been participating in a coordinated Big Day effort. We have consistently been one of the top 25 countries globally for the number of species recorded, and in the top three for Africa. This coordination also helps promote Zambia as a top birding destination. The record has also been instrumental in building a strong interest in Zambian birds by the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, which organises GBSs. The data submitted during GBDs, and throughout the year, provides valuable bird information to their experts and to Birdwatch Zambia. Check out the Zambia 2019 results and species list on www.ebird.org.
This year Global Big Day will be Global Big Weekend!
In addition, this year’s October GBD is happening during the first Global Bird Weekend. The goal of the weekend is to make October 17th and 18th the biggest ever birding weekend, whilst supporting BirdLife International. One of the weekend’s primary goals is to help raise money for BirdLife International’s Stop the Illegal Bird Trade Campaign and so they are asking for bird lovers to either make a personal donation to the project or become a fundraiser. You can find out more information on donating or how to set up your own fundraising campaign on their website – www.globalbirding.org. Kasanka National Park is even offering a resident’s special for bird watchers over the Global Big Weekend.
How you can Participate
You can find out more information about GBD and register for free for your eBird account at www. globalbirding.org and www.ebird.org. This is a worldwide bird checklist program used by millions of birders and allows the compilation of sightings into a single massive October Big Day List. It also collates data for scientists to use so that they can better understand birds. Your eBird checklists must be submitted before 21st October to be included in their initial results. As results come in you can also keep an eye on how lists are growing in different parts of the world, following reports from over 150 countries with statistics being updated in real time.
If you would like to participate in Zambia’s GBD, then go to Birdwatch Zambia Forum on Facebook where you will find posts on how you can register and get guidance notes about the Big Day.
Last year, more than 20,000 worldwide participants submitted 42,700 checklists with 6,709 species. Wherever you bird watch, have fun, stay safe, enjoy the birds you find, and share your sightings. Don’t forget to take lots of photographs and add them to your checklist – they might even end up on the October Big Day website!
Last Sunday was World Animal Day – the 4th October is the awareness day which tries to raise the status of animals in order to improve their welfare standards around the globe.
To achieve this, World Animal Day encourages animal welfare organisations, community groups, youth and children’s clubs, businesses and individuals around the world to organise events in celebration of World Animal Day. Involvement is growing at an astonishing rate and it’s now widely accepted and celebrated in a variety of different ways in many countries.
This year’s theme is – Towards a Plant Based Future – with events taking place across the globe. Normally, events are organised under the World Animal Day umbrella and are publicised on their website. Their Global brand ties all the worldwide events together and helps smaller grassroots groups with raising media awareness of their work and fundraising.
MISSION OF WORLD ANIMAL DAY
To raise the status of animals in order to improve welfare standards around the globe. Building the celebration of World Animal Day unites the animal welfare movement, mobilising it into a global force to make the world a better place for all animals. It’s celebrated in different ways in every country, irrespective of nationality, religion, faith or political ideology. Through increased awareness and education we can create a world where animals are always recognised as sentient beings and full regard is always paid to their welfare.
Although there are fewer events taking place this year due to the global pandemic, why not check out their website to find out how different cultures celebrated – www.worldanimalday.org.uk. You might even find some new ideas and get inspired to get involved and plan your own local event for next year’s World Animal Day.
