International Bat Appreciation Day
Saturday, 17 April, is International Bat Appreciation Day, which is celebrated every year to remind us of the roles that bats play in our daily lives and in nature. This special day was started by Bat Conservation International (BCI) whose mission is to conserve the world’s bats and their ecosystems to ensure a healthy planet.
Many bats are ‘insectivores’ which eat annoying and harmful insects. Did you know that in a single hour, one bat can eat over 1,000 mosquitoes? Other species of bat are nectar eating, so serve as pollinators, whilst frugivores (fruit-eater bats) are essential for seed dispersal for many species of plants and so play a vital part in our bio-diversity.
Some fun bat facts
- Globally there are over 1,420 known species of bats, which account for about 20% of the world’s mammals
- Africa has an incredible bat diversity with over 300 species
- Across southern Africa there are over 120 known species and Zambia has over 75 species
- Nearly 70% of bats are insectivores
- As pollinators, bats, along with bees and butterflies, provide a vital link to our food supply
- Bats are very clean animals, grooming themselves almost constantly
- Bats are the only mammals that are capable of true and sustained flight – making them unique
- Zambia is home to the world’s largest bat migration, in October – December every year, when millions of straw-coloured fruit bats visit Kasanka National Park
Why not take some time today to find out more about bats?
You can find out more about our local Zambian bats on the Bats in Zambia Facebook Page
You can also join in Bats Without Borders regular webinars, who hold regular talks from bat experts from around the world. Check out their #wingedwednesday YouTube videos to catch all of their webinars again.
Go to the BCI’s website and learn more about bats worldwide. You will also find research papers, bat profiles, games, activities, latest news on their blog and even a guide on what you should do if you find an injured bat.
Plan your visit to Kasanka National Park during Bat Season 2021 by visiting www.kasanka.com
Lastly, why not use #BatAppreciationDay to post your bat experiences on social media!