2011 and 2012 were declared as the International Year of the Bat. Dates who wish to draw attention to the importance of this small endangered mammal in the global ecosystem. Only in Portugal there are 27 protected species which represent a third of mammals that occur in our country.
The bat was always one of those animals misunderstood by the general public, and in this respect have contributed greatly to the image conveyed by the blood suck horror movies about vampires, the legends that unfairly associate this small mammal to evil practices and the fact that its essentially nocturnal and lives in caves. Okay, I recognize that this is not na animal in the category of "cute", quite the opposite is ugly as a demon (just a joke), but we must conceded that the bat needs a twist in his public image! Just because it's different and does not fit the parameters of beauty that we attach to certain animals, that doesn't mean it is less important to the environment. And to demystify this idea, I might add that the major contribution of this mammal in the wild is pollination. "The many species of bats are pollinators and disperse seeds of many trees in tropical and temperate forests, thereby helping the regeneration and maintenance of the forest environment which corresponds to about a third of Earth's land surface. While in Portugal in a small scale, the bats continue to be critical to the balance of ecosystems in the forest environment, these data was provided by Eurobats (agreement on the conservation of bat populations in Europe). That is to say, bats are vegan! Jokes aside, these animal eat mostly fruit, however, there are also a large number of species that eat insects, a feature of this small mammal species in the ecosystem that can not be underestimated, given that "The association between bats and forests is particularly strong in arboreal species, specially species that live in cavities or under the bark of trees. However, all species of bats may use different types of natural forests and semi-natural habitats to feed, often exploring specific areas in the forest environment, such as ponds, streams or clearings, where the insects tend to be more abundant. The distribution, density and diversity of bats depends on forest type and how it is managed. It is therefore vital to take measures to reconcile the exploitation of forest products and the preservation or enhancement of the conservation status of bat populations. "
Having said this, and to "combat" prejudice you should considered to join a "night with the bats" and learn how this mammal detects the world around them through ultrasound, since it is almost blind and how it relates in their community. A leisure activity that can and should be doing with your family. To watch bats all you have to do is just sign up in the many activities that are available to you organized by the various entities that have joined the project. Have a pleasent evening...with bats!