10 Major Threats to Bats Worldwide

Posted on by Taylor Holmes

Bats play important roles in our ecosystems and economies, but they also face a variety of threats — many of them human caused — which are causing global population declines. What are the major threats to bats and what can be done to protect our flying friends.

Bats are the second most diverse order of mammals, and are found on every continent except Antarctica. They play vital roles in our ecosystems and economies by controlling insect populations, pollinating our crops, and regenerating rainforests, though they may go unnoticed or underappreciated.

In contrast, how humanity changes the environment is impossible to ignore. We alter landscapes in ways no other organism has managed, carving our name across the Earth’s surface. 

Humans have modified 95 per cent of the earth’s landmass excluding Antarctica (BBC), and these changes are driving an ongoing mass extinction of species. Bats are just one of the victims of humanity’s hegemony.

My latest video explores the various threats bats face in depth.

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