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- Ελληνικά
Dear friends,
It is with great pleasure that I welcome you tonight to the International Bat Night, which was established in 1997 and has been held at the same time every year since, to introduce the public to this misunderstood category of animals through lectures, seminars, exhibitions and other related events.
The initiative belonged to the countries that have signed the Agreement on the Conservation of European Bat Populations. Cyprus is part of the agreement having signed it since 2012.
Bats are the only mammals that fly. They belong to the order Chiroptera (a name due to Aristotle) because, unlike birds, they do not have wings and fly with the help of their forelimbs. They play an important role in many ecosystems and in maintaining biodiversity. However, they are often exterminated by humans because of prejudice (in many cultures, bats are associated with magic and death) and for food.
To protect bats in Europe, the Agreement on the Conservation of Populations of European Bats was signed on 4 December 1991 in London under the auspices of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (1979 Bonn Convention). The main aim of the agreement is to combat their extinction and the prejudice associated with them.
Very few animals in the world are as misunderstood as bats. Like foxes, bats are portrayed in various myths as vicious animals that spread fear and death. This prejudice may be related to the fact that bats are mysterious animals since their night flight and their stay in dark caves make them difficult to study. The fear and antipathy towards bats affects how we treat these special animals, which are the only flying mammals on the planet.
As the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, we try through such events to debunk widespread myths about bats and highlight what is actually true.
Currently, 19 species of bats have been recorded in Cyprus. One species, the Egyptian fruit bat, or nightjar in the vernacular, is the largest bat species found in our country. Cyprus is the only European country that hosts populations of this species.
Dear friends,
Unfortunately, bats in Cyprus, as in other countries, are mainly endangered by anthropogenic disturbances. Most bat species are among the world's most endangered mammals.
The decline in the population of insectivorous bats has resulted in an increase in mosquitoes and other harmful insects, leading humans to resort to the use of chemical insecticides, with negative consequences for the environment.
Aiming to protect all bat species currently hosted in Cyprus, the Republic of Cyprus has included in the European Natura 2000 network several areas where bat populations occur. The Management Plans which have been prepared for these sites propose measures for the protection and management of bats. Also, education in schools and organised groups is part of the activities of our Ministry's Officers, aiming to inform young people about bat conservation issues, in order to change the prejudice that exists about bats.
In addition, mainly through European Programmes, various actions are carried out for the protection and management of bats, such as:
- the maintenance of existing buildings and galleries in old quarries, since these are the main shelters for bats
- the creation of artificial shelters
- the planting of trees for fruit bats, and others.
Bats play a key role in maintaining the balance of many ecosystems around the world. An insectivorous bat can consume up to 3,000 insects in one night, contributing to biological control of harmful insects. Fruit-eating bats feed mainly on overripe fruits that are unfit for human consumption, as well as on flower nectar, helping to pollinate plants, disperse seeds and control insect pests that attack overripe fruits.
It is our duty to protect them as they are one of the most important elements of our local and global natural heritage.
I wish this very special event every success.
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(B]PIO[/B]
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