Here is why bats are crucial to maintaining balance of Hong Kong's environment
Some people may see bats as evil, but they are gentle animals that play a vital role in natural ecosystems, and in technological and medical advances
Bats have a bit of a bad rep, but they’ve done a lot more for the world than you would think.Do you love bats? Do you have a bat phobia you want to beat? Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be a bat? If your answer to any of these questions is yes, then head to “Upside Down – Exploring the World of Bats”, an exhibition at the Jockey Club Creative Arts Centre (JCCAC) in Shek Kip Mei.
The exhibition, organised by Kadoorie Farm, explains the ecological and cultural significance of bats, and aims to banish the fears many have of these animals.
Twenty-seven bat species are known to exist in Hong Kong, with more being discovered almost every year.
“Many people have misconceptions about bats,” says Cindy Luk, the Communications Officer for Kadoorie Farm’s education department. “I think it’s based on Western culture, for example, films [that portray] bats as the symbol of vampires, or something that could bring us bad luck.”
By contrast, in Chinese culture, bats are seen as symbols of good luck. In fact, the Mandarin and Cantonese pronunciations of the word for bat (蝠) is the same as the pronunciation of the word for fortune (福). Bats also appear in Chinese artwork, such as the jade, bat-shaped brush holder on display at the exhibition.
This positive view of bats also has scientific backing. For example, many plants depend on fruit bats to pollinate them, or spread their seeds in their poo, including crops we eat such as lychees, figs, mangoes, and avocados. Pollination is the act of picking up and moving pollen from one plant to another so they can reproduce. Bats do a very good job of controlling the number of insects that eat crops and spread diseases.
“Even [one] small bat can hunt hundreds of insects per hour,” says Yorkie Wong, Fauna Conservation Officer for Kadoorie Farm. “A whole colony can probably eliminate a tonne’s worth of insects per night.”
Bats have also been indirectly responsible for several medical developments. Ultrasound, for instance, was invented partly through the study of the bats’ echolocation abilities. Echolocation is a way in which some animals find their way in the dark, by emitting sound waves that echo when they bounce off an object. Another example was inspired by vampire bat saliva. It has an anti-blood-clotting agent (something that keeps blood runny), and has contributed to medical advances in treating strokes and preventing brain damage.
As for diseases that bats themselves can spread, Wong does not think Hongkongers have much to worry about.
“People in Hong Kong are not known to hunt bats for food or have any close contact with them. So the risk of contracting viruses or bacteria from bats is really low.”
The exhibition isn’t just about education. There are several workshops and activities designed to take you into the winged creatures’ world, ranging from a fake bat cave, to learning how to build a shelter for them. One of the most interesting is the upside-down experiential activity. Live out your secret bat dreams (look, we know you have them) by experiencing for yourself what it’s like to hang off ceilings all the time, on a frame that’ll turn your world literally upside-down.
Also, on August 11, Dr Gary Ades, the head of the Kadoorie Farm’s Fauna Conservation Department, will give a talk on bats in Hong Kong.
“Upside Down – Exploring the World of Bats” runs until August 14 at the JCCAC, 30 Pak Tin Street, Shek Kip Mei. Entry is free