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Bats
Q: Why are bats important to the environment and mankind?
South Africa has 56 recorded species of bats. Of the 75 species found in the sub region of southern Africa, 20 species of insectivorous bats and 2 species of fruit-eating bats are listed as Threatened in the IUCN Red List of threatened Animals. Of these, nine are listed as either Critically Endangered, Endangered or Vulnerable, meaning that they face a high risk of extinction in the wild.
"The group of Bats are critically important to the environment and mankind. The group of insect Bats, which is very diverse, are the natural environmentally clean night time pesticide, with the small species being major contributors to the lowering of disease levels by controlling the disease vectors of Malaria, Encephalitis and Yellow Fever etc. (diseases of mankind) and African Horse Sickness, Rift Valley Fever, Blue Tongue, Lumpy Skin Disease (diseases of livestock and wildlife) while the larger bats of this group consume massive quantities of farm crop pests at night, bringing better yield and quality of crops to man with no cost involved for the task.
Fruit eating Bats help to regenerate tropical forests by defecating seeds from the forest fruits that they devour, while some species are very useful pollinators of important fruits and forest trees such a Mangoes, Peaches, Avocadoes, Wild Bananas, Durian, Baobabs and Balsa trees to mention just a few. "
Now that you know the truth about bats, relax and enjoy their presence in nature. Contribute to their conservation by dismissing the fears of others by educating them with the true facts about bats!
Nigel Fernsby