It's International Bat Night and so people have a chance to come together to celebrate these fascinating flying mammals and join the efforts to save them.

International Bat Night has been commemorated on the last full weekend of August since 1997 and this year's event is slated for Aug. 28 to 29. On this day, people in different countries engage in various special activities to celebrate bats and learn more about them. Some agencies and organizations hold bat walks and talks at dusk while others hold events even during the day.

The aim is to celebrate these creatures and open opportunities for people to get involved in their conservation.

Significance Of International Bat Night

So far, 109 bat species are already considered vulnerable while 83 are endangered. Twenty-one species are said to be critically endangered or facing "imminent risk of extinction" and 242 other species are considered to be "data deficient," which indicates a need for conservation attention.

Among the threats they are facing include habitat destruction, persecution, white-nose syndrome, climate change and even the spread of harmful myths. What some people don't realize is that bats are actually essential to the world's ecosystems. Some of their important contributions include pollinating plants, spreading seeds and consuming pests.

"Without concerted international action, their populations will continue to fall, driving many species to extinction," Bat Conservation International said.

To mark the day, join the cause to celebrate bats and help protect them. Here are some of the ways people can contribute to International Bat Night. (Courtesy: Bat Conservation Trust and Days of the Year (DOTY))

  1. Participate in events- People can look up some local bat groups and see if they have events planned out for the occasion. For instance, people can go to exhibitions or get a chance to listen to bat sounds at a bat walk.
  2. Go bat watching- Whether it's at the backyard or at a park, a simple way to celebrate International Bat Night is to call over some friends or family and watch out for bats flying overhead.
  3. Do a little research- Bats are fascinating creatures -- why not research, learn some interesting facts and spread the word to educate others about them?
  4. Make your garden bat-friendly- With bats' habitats getting more and more scarce, one way people can help them is by making their gardens just a bit more bat-friendly. They can do this through simple means such as reducing artificial light and keeping cats indoors at night.
  5. Donate- Whether people donate money to a local bat group or their time by volunteering, offering just a bit of what you have can go a long way in keeping these fascinating mammals flying around for years to come.
As well as collisions with cars, wind turbines and even the automatic motion sensors that illuminate the stairways of apartment blocks can be perilous for bats
As well as collisions with cars, wind turbines and even the automatic motion sensors that illuminate the stairways of apartment blocks can be perilous for bats AFP / GUILLAUME SOUVANT
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