Covid: Why bats are not to blame
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.
Read Helen Brigg’s full article on the BBC website – Covid: Why bats are not to blame, say scientists
Main image: BBC Science News – Some tropical fruit bats carry seeds inside them, carrying them far and wide