Zoo makes ‘difficult decision’ to rehome bats
Jersey Zoo has announced the “difficult decision” to rehome its colony of Livingstone fruit bats. The move comes after the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, which owns the zoo, concluded that…
Bats live with some viruses. But others can do them in
A survey of nearly 90 years of experimental infections shows some viruses are bad for bats Even bats aren’t immune to taking a “sick day.” While bats are famously able…
Teen bats are spawning new viruses—here’s why scientists are paying close attention
Young Bats May Hold Clues to How New Coronaviruses Emerge, Study Finds New research from the University of Sydney sheds light on when and how new coronavirus variants develop in…
Bats play a key role in combating rice pests in Southeast Asia
Scientists from the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (Leibniz-IZW) and the Prince of Songkla University in Thailand have demonstrated that Wrinkle-lipped free-tailed bats not only travels great distances,…
Why do bats hang upside down to sleep?
When they’re not flying, bats often suspend themselves from cave ceilings or the undersides of bridges. But what makes them sleep upside down? This peculiar habit likely stems from the…
Bats surf storm fronts during continental migration
Bats, like birds, are capable of incredible long-distance migrations, but their behavior has remained a mystery due to the difficulty of observing it. Recent research by scientists from the Max…
Orange Dwarf Cave Crocodiles: How Bats, Caves, and Mutation Created a New Species
Dwarf crocodiles in Gabon found living in a cave, with their skin turning orange from swimming in guano. It’s unclear how long they’ve been down there, but genetic research indicates…
South Australia Adjusts to Growing Colonies of Megabats in Adelaide
In a spectacle of nature, grey-headed flying foxes, boasting wingspans exceeding a meter and a voracious craving for fruit and nectar, have made South Australia their sprawling sanctuary. As twilight…
Preserving Wildlife: New Refuges in Tennessee and Wyoming Safeguard Toads, Bats, Salamanders
Federal authorities report that two recently inaugurated national wildlife sanctuaries in Tennessee and Montana are poised to safeguard environments crucial for the well-being of imperiled species, including but not limited…
Bats’ Extraordinary Immunity: Clues for Cancer Prevention
In a groundbreaking study, bats emerge as evolutionary marvels, having developed unique traits that shield them from cancer and bolster their resistance to infections. The extraordinary genomic adaptations discovered in…