Thousands of bat colonies destroyed due to the war: a scientist appealed to Ukrainians

According to glavcom.ua: During the war in Ukraine, mass destruction of bat shelters has begun, which is one of the less noticeable environmental problems. Thousands of these animals are dying in destroyed buildings where they usually hibernate. The number of bats in need of help has doubled since the invasion began. This was stated by Alyona Prylutskaya, a candidate of biological sciences, co-founder of the Ukrainian Center for Bat Rehabilitation, and senior researcher at the Askania-Nova Reserve.

“At the beginning of the war, we were receiving up to 3,000 bats for the winter, and now the number has increased to around 6,000,” the scientist noted. In Kharkiv and other cities that have come under shelling, bat colonies have begun to suffer the most losses. Bats hibernate in crevices of houses and on balconies. Just in one winter of 2022, over 6,000 animals were transferred to the bat rehabilitation center.

“We checked buildings where bat colonies used to be and saw them destroyed after the war. The colonies disappeared along with the houses,” Prylutskaya explained.

The importance of bats for the ecosystem

The scientist emphasized that the destruction of bat shelters could lead to massive deaths of these animals, which hibernate in groups of several hundred to 1,500 in a single shelter. Prylutskaya highlighted the importance of bats for the ecosystem, as they regulate insect populations. She also urges people not to chase bats from balconies, and in case of discovering a colony, to contact specialists, as volunteers in many cities help rescue the animals.

Due to the war in Ukraine, a serious problem arises for bats-the destruction of their shelters. This can lead to a massive death of these animals, which are important for the ecosystem and regulate insect populations. Scientists urge people not to drive bats away but to try to help them by contacting specialists or volunteers.