The Fire Department in Yulin of Guangxi captured hundreds of migratory bats. Was this the right approach? Calls for bats conservation & awareness promotion
Recently, it came to my attention that an
incident involving bats occurred in a scenic area in Yulin, Guangxi. The staff
at the site alerted the Fire Department for assistance in capturing the bats.
Subsequently, the area was temporarily closed, and the firefighters took
precautions and climbed onto the roof beams to catch the bats. According to
media reports from Guangxi TV and other sources, it was stated that "wild
bats carry a significant amount of pathogens, posing a serious threat to
visitor safety." Consequently, the "Rongxian Brigade immediately
dispatched two fire trucks and eight firefighters to deal with the
situation." After capturing the bats, the firefighting and rescue
personnel disinfected the roof beams with sprays. Finally, the report mentioned
that these bats were handed over to "professionals for further
processing."
However, I can't help but wonder, who
exactly were they handed over to? And how were those bats processed?
Firstly, we need to recognize the crucial
role bats play in ecosystems. They are natural pest controllers, helping to
regulate insect populations and reduce crop damage caused by pests. They have a
positive impact on agricultural production. Additionally, bats are commonly
valuable pollinators, facilitating plant reproduction and maintaining ecosystem
stability.
However, bats are currently facing numerous
threats to their survival, including habitat loss, the negative stigma
associated with disease outbreaks (similar to this incident branding bats
negatively), and a decline in insect biodiversity due to excessive chemical
use, which results in a lack of food sources for bats.
Guangxi, located in a subtropical region,
possesses abundant limestone formations and cave resources, making it a habitat
for a diverse range of bat species. Bats have long been an integral part of the
local ecosystems. Considering the ecological value and biodiversity of bats, I
cannot help but raise several questions regarding the handling of this
incident:
1. Should bats flying into a scenic area be
treated as a problem that needs immediate resolution?
And if so, should the focus be on evacuating surrounding visitors or
climbing onto the roof to capture the bats?
2. Why didn't the scenic area contact the
forestry department? Does the Fire Department have the authority to handle such
situations?
3. Does the Fire Department possess the
specialized expertise required for handling bats?
4. The report mentions
"professionals" handling the bats. What exactly does this mean? Were
the bats exterminated?
5. Are the hundreds of bats in the Rongzhou
Ancient City scenic area considered "invasive" or were they already
inhabitants of the area?
Currently, there are over 1,400 bat species
globally. However, research on bat species within China is relatively limited.
Therefore, it is imperative to conduct in-depth studies on the basic
information, current status, and conservation status of bats, along with
implementing national-level species protection measures. Entrusting the
handling of bats to firefighters without proper expertise and experience may
potentially harm these valuable creatures, leading to population declines or
even extinction.
These incidents also highlight the
inadequacies in mainstreaming biodiversity conservation efforts and the lack of
relevant institutional safeguards. Firefighters typically do not possess the
required expertise in such cases.
Parties to the Convention on Biological
Diversity are required to submit National Biodiversity Strategies and Action
Plans (NBSAPs), which outline the wide-ranging priorities and plans of each
country in achieving biodiversity conservation. Therefore, I suggest that China
promptly formulate a bat species protection action plan, promote bat research
and conservation, and mainstream biodiversity conservation efforts.
Additionally, it is essential to publish relevant protocols and procedures to
facilitate timely responses to similar incidents in the future.
Furthermore, some senior scientists in
China express concerns about the current plight of bats. As these scientists
lament, "No one in China has conducted research on bat migration. What is
the current status of bat populations, their geographical distribution,
habitats, degree of endangerment, causes, and what measures should be taken to protect
these winged mammals with a unique status in the ecosystem? Are Chinese bats
only counted when tallying the number of mammal species nationwide?"
In conclusion, I find it puzzling that the
Yulin scenic area chose to hand over the bats to the fire department for
handling. Bats are integral components of ecosystems, and their value should
not be overlooked. We need to strengthen research and conservation efforts
related to bats, promote awareness of their benefits, and mainstream
biodiversity conservation. By doing so, we can contribute actively to
biodiversity and ecosystem conservation, including the protection of bats.
(This article represents the author's
personal opinion. Comments, discussions, and critiques are welcomed.)
Author: TIAN Wenjie
Checked
by Tommy
Editor: Tommy
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