Blaming Bats for pandemics in human is not new thing. In past, Rabies infection, Hendra virus infection in Autrailia, Nipah Virus infections in Malaysia and Bangladesh and SARS coronavirus infection in China are explored from BAT perspective.
Recently there is a research news that they have identified 6 new coronaviruses types frombats.[1]
Why Bats are special for Virology study?
All organisms act as reservoir of viruses unique to their species. Then why Bats are getting such attention? Why not pigs, ducks or chickens?
There are several reasons[3].
- With 925 recognized species bats represent, they are 20% of mammals species!
- Bats have colonized all continents with Antarctic as exception.
- Except Humans, no other group of mammals have such geographically broad presence.
- Bats are also extremely numerous. Millions of them could be found in single cave or tree.
- Bats are very social like humans.
- Bats are the only Mammal who can fly. For food, they fly even up to 1000 km between summer and winter.
Due to all reasons, there are enormous possibilities of viruses transmission within the species.
Besides, viral infection in bats can stay for 100 days or more due to low temperature of habitat and their body temperature. They also have long life…35 years! In this time, several viral infections can happen for 100+ days patches. More possibilities to exchange the same with environment.
So Bats are demon? Real culprits?
In my humble opinion, no Bats are no villain. Bats play important role in ecology.
1) Bats are plant pollinizers [2]
Bats play important role as plant pollinizers[2]. Many people are unaware that over 500 plant species rely on bats to pollinate their flowers, including species of mango, banana, durian, guava and agave (used to make tequila). So, next time you drink some tequila or eat a mango, say thanks to the bats! The pollination of plants by bats is called chiropterophily.
2) Bats are seed dispersers and reforesters[2]
Like birds, some bats play a critical role in spreading the seeds of trees and other plants. Some tropical fruit bats carry seeds inside them as they digest the fruit, then excrete the seeds far away from the original tree. These seeds drop to the ground in their own ready-made fertiliser, which helps them germinate and grow. Because bats help pollinate and disperse seeds, they can even play an important part in helping regrowth after forest clearance.
3) Bats are pest controller[2]
While some people think bats are pests, some bats are actually pest controllers eating thousands of insects every night. Insect-eating bats are great for keeping bugs away from crops, as well as the places where the bats roost. The Brazilian free-tailed bat has been recognised as an important “pest management service” in cotton farming. Because bats eat so many insects in some regions, they can also reduce the need for pesticide sprays.
4) Bats as Indicators of Biodiversity[2]
They can tell us a lot about the state of the environment, as they are top predators of common nocturnal insects and are sensitive to changes in land use practices. The pressures they face – such as landscape change, agricultural intensification, development, and habitat fragmentation are also relevant to many other wildlife species, making them excellent indicators for the wider health of the terrain’s wildlife.
Last point is very important. Bats act as indicator of health of our environment. If they are sick, if they are under constant viral infection, it indicates worse environment they live in!
Thanks to mankind’s greed, we turned sacred farming profession into business by creating imaginary shortage of food post world war 2 (The real idea was to sell surplus NPK as fertilizers). [4]
We should note here that Pesticides endanger bats [3] and when they are under constant stress, they will be under viral infections for sure.Studies have already indicated that bats are particularly sensitive to pesticides. On top of it, their food I.e. insects are killed by pesticides and insecticides usage. So basically, local region where they below, become unlivable due to human activities. Sickness is sign of these conditions.
So essentially, viruses from Bats are indicators of our destruction of local ecology.
Bats as evil forces because they spread Viruses is limited world view and won’t give us full proof solutions for pandemics. The evil nature of bats is dynamic like all status indicators are dynamic. Viral accidents will increase or decrease based on how we treat mother nature and natural habitats of other species. If we keep coming on the way of many species more frequently.
Finding 1000 viruses from Bats or killing Bats en masse is not a long term solution for avoiding pandemics in future. Mother nature will find different way to notify us about us wrongdoings.
Remember the story of foolish monkey protecting the king?
Let me quote it here briefly:
एक राजा ने एक पालतू बन्दर को अपने सेवक के रूप में रखा हुआ था। जहाँ – जहाँ राजा जाता, वह बन्दर भी उसके साथ जाता। राजा के दरबार में उस बन्दर को राजा का पालतू होने के कारण कोई रोक – टोक नहीं थी। एक गर्मी के मौसम के दिन राजा अपने शयन पर विश्राम कर रहा था। वह बन्दर भी शयन के पास बैठ कर राजा को एक पंखे से हवा कर रहा था। तभी एक मक्खी आई और राजा की छाती पर आकरबैठ गयी। जब बन्दर ने उस मक्खी को बैठा देखा तो उसने उसे उड़ाने का प्रयास किया। हर बार वो मक्खी उड़ती और थोड़ी देर बाद फिर राजा की छाती पर आ कर बैठ जाती। यह देख कर बन्दर गुस्से से लाल हो गया। गुस्से में उसने मक्खी को मारने की ठानी। फिर वो बन्दर मक्खी को मारने के लिए हथियार ढूडने लगा। कुछ दूर ही उसे राजा की तलवार दिखाई दी। उसने वो तलवार उठाई और गुस्से में मक्खी को मारने के लिए पूरे बल से तलवार राजा की छाती पर मार दी। इससे पहले की तलवार मक्खी को लगती, मक्खी वहाँ से उड़ गयी। बन्दर के बल से किये गए वार से मक्खी तो नहीं मरी मगर उससे राजा की मृत्यु अवश्य हो गयी।
Focus on the last line: मक्खी तो नहीं मरी मगर उससे राजा की मृत्यु अवश्य हो गयी।
Our science is doing similar monkey acts though our intellect and actions. Instead of focusing on protecting and restoring ecology whose destruction is causing more and more havoc in human lives, we are focusing on finding one more virus, one more antidote and vaccine. Sheer lack of understanding about the wholeness and we being part of it! Sheer greed and profit mongering.
Not saying that, this is not a good idea. Do it to fulfill your inquisitiveness. But this is not the right defense. Like the monkey trying to kill the bug by the sword, we are using our sword (science) in wrong direction.
Not just 6, we will find 1000 viruses in the future! Use science for protecting and nurturing nature-human symbiosis.
[2] https://www.bats.org.uk/about-bats/why-bats-matter
[3] 10.1007/978-94-007-4899-6_12
[4] https://www.ucdavis.edu/coronavirus/news/link-between-virus-spillover-wildlife-extinction-and-environment/
The Link Between Virus Spillover, Wildlife Extinction and the Environment
The Same Processes That Threaten Wildlife Increase Our Risk of Spillover
“Spillover of viruses from animals is a direct result of our actions involving wildlife and their habitat,” said lead author Christine Kreuder Johnson, project director of USAID PREDICT and director of the EpiCenter for Disease Dynamics at the One Health Institute, a program of the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. “The consequence is they’re sharing their viruses with us. These actions simultaneously threaten species survival and increase the risk of spillover. In an unfortunate convergence of many factors, this brings about the kind of mess we’re in now.”
