This EUROBATS initiative has been held on the last weekend of August since 1997 to bring the world of bats closer to the public. The Valencian park supports this event and will carry out special actions in September, which aim to draw attention to the threatened status of these animals and the problem this poses for the environment.
The bat It is, without a doubt, the most emblematic species for Valencians, present in the insignia of institutions and entities since Jaume I placed “lo rat penat” in his helmet and royal shield. Valued by ancient cultures such as the Arab, who They domesticated them to fight mosquitoes that plague the swampy areas near Valencia such as the Albufera. Later myths and legends have relegated and mistreated it until it has reached its current worrying state of threat.
BIOPARC Valencia aims to raise awareness about the need to conserve nature and the importance of protecting the planet's biodiversity. In this sense, it shows its ccommitment to the protection of different species and their habitats, especially the most threatened ones, among which are some local ones to which, in many cases, not enough attention is paid. This is the case of bats, which the Valencian park wants to highlight and has begun to carry out specific actions for its preservation through the BIOPARC Foundation, since they are essential species to maintain the balance of biodiversity.
The Arabs domesticated bats to eliminate the mosquitoes that plague the swampy areas near Valencia such as the Albufera.
Hundreds of conservation entities commemorate the last weekend of August the International Bat Night, a EUROBATS initiative that has been held since 1997 to bring the world of bats closer to the public. BIOPARC adheres to this important action to inform society about the threatened situation of these animals that have even become extinct in certain countries and will carry out special actions next September. The main reasons are the loss of perches, the decrease in feeding areas, the increase in the use of pesticides and the prejudices derived from ignorance. It is worth insisting In which less than 1% of bats have rabies, only 3 of the more than 1.200 species worldwide are vampires, they do not attack humans and only bite to defend themselves. Additionally, bats can see, eat insects, and some act as pollinators and seed dispersers. Bat populations are one of the best indicators of environmental health, as they thrive when the ecosystem is healthy and stable.
EUROBATS is the Agreement on the Conservation of European Bat Populations which came into force in 1994 and has as its objective to protect the 53 species of bats on our continent.
