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.)

Original text in Chinese see:

《广西玉林容州古城景区的百来只蝙蝠：后来交给哪位“专业人员”处理的呢？怎样处理的？》

Author: TIAN Wenjie

Checked by Tommy

Editor: Tommy

Contact: v10@cbcgdf.org; +8617319454776

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