Why bats are so special?

We often unjustifiably refer to certain animals to illustrate human nature and its (mis) behaviour which is most unfortunate since the drawn references often are far from the reality and are mere selfish acts to prove human supremacy. Pigs and pigsty are often referred to mean untidiness but we must understand pigs by nature are one of the tidiest animals who love to reside in decent and cozy places. Few weeks back I tried to make an unrealistic reference of Ostrich’s behaviour to human tendency of intentional ignoring of facts. And now it is once again for the turn of Bats, a creature which is my personal favourite because of their resilience and supremacy in adoption- a creature that has gone through many rough phases and yet survived and also due to this very fact that it is the only flying mammal of our time. Bats are unique.

Since COVID-19 had started looming its dark shadow across the world, scientists wanted to understand its source. It is believed that in the current case, the original carrier was a horseshoe bat that was infected by the virus. Researchers believe that from that bat the coronavirus leaped to an intermediary species, perhaps a pangolin and this intermediary animal was one of the many such animals sold at Wuhan’s ‘wet’ market, and the first human may have been infected there. The strain of Coron virus that is creating havoc is called ‘Novel’ because it was not known; but we always knew that Coronavirus besides being carried by the bats could??also be carried by many common animals like cats, dogs, pangolins and even by chicken and cows! Since the virus ‘steal’ genetic encryption of cells to multiply , we do not know for certain as of today, which other animals can ‘host’ this deadly virus.??It is not the Coronavirus but the mutated strain that is the cause of concern and bats are not to be blamed for this. Bats, because they look unconventional and nocturnal cannot be hated.

It is interesting to know why in spite of carrying Coronavirus in their body for years bats are not getting affected. The reason is as fascinating as the creature itself! When bats fly, their body temperature rises close to 100 deg F (they are mammals and warm blooded) and a very fast heart rate supports Bats in their flight. This unnatural flight by a mammal consumes huge energy and rapid metabolism and bats are evolved with an uncanny ability to produce such unstable and complex molecules in the body during its flight that are able to repair damaged cells rapidly in a continuous support mechanism. This is quite unthinkable in human bodies because human bodies react to the virus (which have already been able to ‘steal and copy’ genetic encryptions) in a haywire manner and does not prevent inflammation creating activity of virus which often proves to be fatal.

We need to introspect our acts deeply and understand we are only just a tiny fragment in Her universal arrangement of billions of creatures and the best way to survive is in respecting each creature.?Bats help keep forests growing. Without bats to hold their populations in check, insects that munch on tree seedlings go wild, doing three to nine times more damage than when bats are on the scene. That is according to a groundbreaking new study from the University of Illinois.?

Every year on 17th?April, the?International Bat Appreciation Day is celebrated across the world to acknowledge the huge beneficial impact of the species and grow love for the creature. My token of appreciation for this unique creature remains here.