Ok, so bats aren't your typical pets but tonight is International Bat Night.
International Bat Night is an annual event set up by The Bat Conservation Trust to raise awareness of this unique mammal. Each year, events are held all over the world so that nature lovers and the general public can learn about the species, watch and hear them too.
If you can't make it to an event in your local area, don't worry, I've got you covered.
Bats are unique animals, they're the only true flying mammals and are extremely important in telling us about the state of our environment. There are over 1,100 species of bats in the world, and more are still being discovered. Bats account for more than a quarter of mammal species in the UK and around 20% of all mammal species worldwide.
Many people are unaware that over 500 plant species rely on bats to pollinate them, including species of mango, banana, cocoa, durian, guava and agave (used to make tequila. In the UK, some bats are indicator species, because changes to these bat populations can indicate changes in aspects of biodiversity. Bats might suffer when there are problems with insect populations (because our bats feed on insects) or when habitats are destroyed or poorly managed (for example, some bats only live in large woodlands).
All UK bats eat insects. Each species has its favourite types and hunts them in its own special way. Most insects are caught and eaten in mid-air, though bats sometimes find it easier to hang up to eat larger prey. All bats have very big appetites, because flying uses up lots of energy.
Bats are the only mammal that can truly fly (rather than glide). Their wings are actually hands that have adapted for flight, which means they are very flexible and able to move independently. This fantastic manoeuvrability arguably makes bats better at flying than birds!
Sadly, many bats are threatened with extinction due to habitat loss, disease, hunting of bats and loss of food. It's really important that we help conserve these species as they're so important in telling us about our environment, without them we wouldn't know about the state of our environment thus can't repair it.
Enjoy Bat Night tonight guys! If you can't see any bats, get onto youtube and look them up, there are some really interesting and informative videos on there
If you would like to find out more about Bats and/or the International Bat Night, please check out:
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