ABC COVID-19 Statement

(Download the ENGLISH VERSION statement as a PDF here)

(Download the CHICHEWA VERSION statement as a PDF here).

As efforts here in Malawi are being enforced to prevent further spread of the novel human coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) and associated Coronavirus disease (COVID-19). African Bat Conservation would like to provide some facts* on COVID-19 and bats.

Bats do not spread Corona Virus it is being transmitted from humans to other humans.

There is no evidence that bats directly infected humans with SARS-CoV-2 .

Currently, we do not know exactly how the SARS-CoV-2 pathogen jumped from animal to human. Research released on January 23rd, 2020 on bioRxiv.org by Chinese researchers at Wuhan Institute of Virology shows that that SARS-CoV-2 pathogen shares 96% of its genome with SARS-like coronaviruses (Zhou et al. 2020). Bats, specifically Rhinolophid (Horseshoe) bats in China, are the natural wildlife reservoirs for SARS-like coronaviruses, even though another “intermediate” species could have been involved with direct transmission to people (Lam et al. 2020). Many animals carry coronaviruses and are potential sources of infection.

Killing of bats will not have any effects on the spread of SARS-CoV-2 .

There have been numerous reports that communities and governmental authorities in several regions of the world have been culling bats in a misplaced effort to combat the disease. However, culling of bats and their criticism during this pandemic are wrong . Exterminating bat roosts won’t do anything to reduce the risk and we cannot try to eliminate the risk by exterminating wild animals.

Bats provide enormous benefits including pollination, seed dispersal and agricultural insect pest control, worth billions of dollars annually. Killing of bats would adversely affect the conservation status of bat populations and their associated benefits for humans.

Bats carrying coronaviruses and undisturbed by people are not a threat to human health. Studies have shown that a number of bat species, especially in the tropics, are reservoirs for viruses and other pathogens that may cause emerging infectious diseases in people, such as Nipah virus, SARS and Ebola. However, these viruses have emerged largely due to human activities that alter the environment and bring bats, people, and livestock into closer contact. This may happen where people are increasingly encroaching on bat habitat, for example through deforestation or where bats are hunted and eaten.

There are some 1,400 bat species living in the wild around the world. Many have adapted to urban environments, and have been living in backyard gardens, roofs, urban parks and even roosting under bridges, without posing the slightest threat to their human neighbours.

The Chief Executive of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), explained that: "The most urgent action needed to combat SARS-CoV-2 is to stop its transmission, which is from humans to humans. In the longer term, we need to examine and stop specific human practices and uses of wild animals, and the widespread destruction of natural habitats, in order to prevent another such terrible event in the future."

*These facts are based on those prepared by Bat Conservation International, Bat Conservation Trust, the Secretariats of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), the Agreement on the Conservation of Populations of European Bats (EUROBATS), the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) and the EcoHealth Alliance.

References:

Lam T, Shum M, Zhu H, Tong Y, Ni X, Liao Y. et al. Identification of 2019-nCoV related coronaviruses in Malayan pangolins in southern China. BIORXIV. 2020 doi: 10.1101/2020.02.13.945485.

Zhou P, Yang XL, Wang XG, Hu B, Zhang L, Zhang W, A pneumonia outbreak associated with a new coronavirus of probable bat origin. Nature. 2020.

ABC SELLING HOMES FOR BATS - buy our sustainable Bat boxes

We had our first stall at the monthly farmers market at Woodlands, Lilongwe this morning, selling wooden bat boxes and bat guano to be used as fertiliser. Each bat box has been carefully hand-made for African Bat Conservation by a local carpenter in Lilongwe, using sustainable, non-native timber.

It was a fantastic morning and a good turn out! The bat boxes proved very popular and generated a lot of interest. It was wonderful to chat to people about the work we do, and to let people know how to help bats by putting up boxes in their garden. With so much deforestation and increased development taking place, bats are losing their homes at an alarming rate. A wooden bat box can provide a suitable alternative resting place for bats and encourage them into areas where there are few natural roosting opportunities such as crevices in tree s and buildings.

Do you live in Lilongwe and want to buy a bat box and help bats? Some of our specially made bat boxes will be appearing very soon at Four Seasons Nursery in Lilongwe. Alternatively, you can always place an order for boxes or some of our bat guano fertiliser by getting in touch through our Facebook page, or by visiting our website www.africanbatconservation.org

Exciting new Bat species for ABC!

Last week our urban bat team caught Epomops dobsonii (Dobson's Epauletted Fruit Bat) in Lilongwe Nature Sanctuary. Dobson's Epauletted fruit bat is a massive bat weighing 150g and with a forearm length of 91cm!

The photo on the left shows a Dobson's Epauletted fruit bat on the left and Wahlberg's Epauletted fruit bat on the right for comparison.

Our team were very excited to catch him and we believe this is the first record of one in Malawi since 1982, with only 3 previous records in the country. Certainly a first for Lilongwe!

We are very happy to wrap up work in the city for Christmas having caught 15 bat species in the city since the project began in September 2016. Here's to more success in 2017 too!

(Updated 19/12/2016)

(Updated 14/12/2016)

New vacancies!

Science Communication and Marketing Assistant

January 2017 start for 8 months +

CRA are recruiting for a Science Communication and Marketing Assistant to assist us in developing the public profile and outreach of CRA and all the projects under it; ABC, CRM and UWP. The position is primarily based at our research office in the capital city Lilongwe with some time spent at our research camps in Liwonde and Kasungu National Parks.

If you are interested then download an application pack and also an application form and send it to emma@conservationresearchafrica.org

(Advertised 2/12/2016. Closed when position is filled)

Another new species to Liwonde park!

The ABC Liwonde team have caught yet another new bat to the park!

Scotophilus nigrita, the giant yellow house bat, is a huge house bat with a forearm length up to 80cm long - nearly twice that of the more common white-bellied and the yellow house bats!

There is very little data on this species. It is thought to be sparsely distributed with, until now, no records of it's echolocation calls and virtually nothing known about its roosting or habitat preferences.

Another exciting find for ABC!

(Updated 23/02/2016)

new bat to Liwonde caught by ABC team!

The Liwonde NP ABC research team have just caught and identified three individuals of Myotis welwitschii - Welwitsch's myotis - in open mopane woodland! Although this species is already known to Malawi, it is a new species for the park and is sparsely distributed across south-eastern Africa,aswellas being described as a mountain dwelling species.

(Updated 27/01/2016)

Dr Stone co-publishes paper on bats and churches

Mitigating the Impact of Bats in Historic Churches: The Response of Natterer’s Bats Myotis nattereri to Artificial Roosts and Deterrence by Matt R. K. Zeale, Emily Bennitt, Stuart E. Newson, Charlotte Packman, William J. Browne, Stephen Harris, Gareth Jones and Emma Stone has just been published on PLOS One Open Access!

(Updated 27/01/2016)