Have bats had their day?

Published: Friday, 31 January 2020

OR SHOULD that be 'Have bats had their night?

IvinghoeBridge

Whatever, there is a great chance that the creatures will no longer be the protected species they enjoyed being, holding up numerous canal restorations and the repairs to the waterways infrastructure as they have so done in the past.

The picture shows Ivinghoe Bridge over the Grand Union Canal damaged last May that was supposed to be repaired this month but work stopped as bats could be present.

Bats were the instigators

It is now accepted that bats were the instigators of the new killer virus coronavirus. that has caused China to be on virtual lock-down and cities in quarantine.

The study of coronavirus, that at the present time is said to have affected over 6,000 people was evolved from bats, with scientists telling they can reveal the spread and evolution of the virus.

Information gathered from the analysis of the animal DNA and the viral DNA trapped within help scientists predict 'hotspots' of any future outbreaks.

GiveBatsHomeMost probable cause

It comes as research published in the Lancet used a similar method to determine bats are the most probable cause of the original host of the virus.

Samples suggest that bats passed the disease on to an 'intermediate' host which was at the Huanan seafood market in Wuhan before being passed on to the 'terminal host'—humans.

Which begs the question—how can a mammal that spreads a killer disease be a protected species?

The picture was used by Canal & River Trust in its campaign to 'Give Bats a Home'.