The host nodded and said, "Eating wild animals harms both others and ourselves!"
He then looked through his notes and found a question: "Someone here asks, why are bats becoming rarer and harder to see?"
Listening to the conversation, many viewers reminisced about their childhood memories of bats!
They were surprised to realize that bats, once common, seemed to have disappeared over time.
Wang Yan replied, "The reasons are quite complex!"
After organizing his thoughts, he explained, "Firstly, habitat destruction and fragmentation are major issues faced by all wildlife.
Bats are among the most adaptable mammals to their environment, which is why they used to be common. However, human impact on natural environments has become so significant that many habitats are no longer suitable for them.
Bats typically roost in caves, abandoned mines, tree hollows, and some abandoned buildings. Tourism development in many caves has greatly reduced their distribution. This is a primary reason. Some bats roost in abandoned mines, which may be closed or backfilled, while urban development demolishes ruins, and deforestation removes dead trees used by bats, leading to their mass deaths.
Bats are social animals. If their habitat becomes smaller or fragmented, it cannot support long-term population survival. This can also isolate their roosting and hibernation areas, preventing normal hibernation and causing population declines.
Additionally, there are many misconceptions about bats, leading to their mass extermination.
In South America, for example, people have tried to prevent rabies by poisoning vampire bats and even using explosives to destroy their caves. This not only killed the vampire bats but also other bat species sharing the habitat.
Using insecticides to kill them during hibernation or disturbing them during hibernation can awaken them prematurely, causing them to exhaust their fat reserves and die of starvation before spring.
Persistent insecticides are also a major threat. The toxins accumulated in bats' bodies can affect the nervous system development of young bats, leading to high mortality rates and severely impacting population numbers, which may take decades to recover.
Another factor is the microclimate changes in their habitats. Temperature changes are crucial, especially for female bats and their young during the lactation period. For instance, in the summer of 1974, cold weather in Indiana, USA, extended the growth period of a bat colony's young by two weeks, delaying their migration by three weeks and affecting their winter fat reserves, leading to mass deaths.
Moreover, the microenvironment of their habitats determines insect abundance. If the microenvironment is unsuitable for insect growth, bats may die from lack of food.
Global warming and increasing climate anomalies bring various unseen impacts."
The audience listened attentively to Wang Yan's explanation, impressed by his vast knowledge and numerous examples and data.
This sparked lively discussions among family and friends.
"Who knew global warming affects bats too?"
"The weather is indeed strange. It usually cools down around October, but this year, it's mid-November, and it's just getting cold."
"Isn't warming good for bats?"
"Our warming might mean extreme cold elsewhere! Didn't you hear that climate affects insect growth too? Nature is so complex and interconnected; changes can't be explained in a few words."
"If bats play such an important ecological role, habitat destruction might have negative environmental impacts."
"I haven't noticed any such impact."
"Suddenly, it feels dangerous... Could this be nature's warning to us?"
"We should seriously reflect on the damage we've done to Earth over the years! We need to protect their habitats and stop destroying the natural environment!"
The person saying this might not realize that this is just the beginning, and there's a long way to go.
The host asked, "Why aren't bats afraid of viruses?"
Wang Yan explained, "Bats are remarkable animals. During flight, their metabolic rate increases 15-16 times, like an engine, generating more heat, with body temperatures reaching 40 degrees Celsius.
Viruses that infect mammals prefer environments around 36-37 degrees. When humans get infected, fever is an immune response to fight the virus. Bats' body temperature of 40 degrees makes it hard for most viruses to survive.
Viruses that do survive are tough. The high metabolism also damages DNA, so bats have evolved strong DNA repair mechanisms."
Fang Ye smiled, "So, bats actually hold many valuable secrets. If humans can understand them better, we might find keys to fighting viruses."
Wang Yan nodded, "They indeed have significant medical research value, not just for viruses. Proteins extracted from vampire bat saliva dissolve blood clots faster than some clinical drugs."
The two continued answering various audience questions!
It was evident that people's attitudes towards environmental and wildlife protection had significantly changed, with many eager to learn more.
Previously, they might have just paid lip service, not thinking it affected their lives. Whether protecting or poaching wildlife, they felt it had nothing to do with them in the city.
But now, they were willing to learn and understand more, their awareness greatly heightened.
If they saw someone selling wild animals in the market, they would immediately call the authorities.
As the show was about to end, the host summarized, "Bats may look ugly and carry viruses, but they play crucial roles in the ecosystem, maintaining ecological balance. We hope people will fear bats less and understand them more objectively.
The right approach to bats and other wildlife is to keep our distance. Respecting nature is protecting ourselves."
This event undoubtedly brought about many changes.
Due to social distancing measures, many people stayed home and refrained from going out. The use of cars, buses, trains, and other transportation significantly decreased. Over two months, atmospheric particulate matter and other pollutants noticeably decreased.
The air became cleaner, leading to a reduction in respiratory diseases.
Noise levels also saw a significant drop, allowing birds to seize the opportunity to sing freely.
People began to notice that there were many birds in the city that they had never paid attention to before. They could now hear birds singing loudly all day long, along with the sound of their wings flapping.
Many people discussed on social media whether the birds' calls had become particularly loud recently or if it was just a misconception due to being cooped up at home with nothing else to do.
In fact, scientists had studied this phenomenon.
Fang Ye had previously mentioned in a TV interview that when people shout to friends across the street, the noise of traffic naturally makes them raise their voices.
This phenomenon has a name: the Lombard effect.
Researchers initially wondered if the reduction in urban noise would cause birds to lower their singing volume.
The results were surprising: not only did the birds' voices become softer, but their lower tones became deeper and their vocal range expanded, conveying more information. Some low tones had never been recorded before.
In more human terms, their chirping became more melodious and romantic.
It's like trying to be heard at a noisy party by shouting, which isn't conducive to singing, whereas in a quiet, deserted garden, one might convey profound discussions or tender words.
Even if the birds sang softly, the quieter environment allowed their songs to travel twice as far as usual.
Many people felt that the birds' songs had become louder, but it wasn't that the birds were singing louder; it was that more birds could be heard, up to four times more than usual.
This year might be the first time in their lives that these birds could communicate without straining their voices.
The quieting wasn't limited to land but extended to the seas.
Marine ecologists noted that with cruise ships halted, global ocean noise levels immediately dropped to levels unseen in decades.
Noise from ships and other marine traffic increases stress hormone levels in marine life, affecting their reproductive success. Whales and dolphins even learned to pause their songs when cargo ships approached and resume once they had passed.
This year was likely the most tranquil and pleasant migration period for these whales and dolphins, free from noise disturbances, pursuit, or sonar interference.
As researchers put it, when we held our breath, nature sighed in relief.
Nature is an endless book, yet most people have only read a few pages and think they understand it all. This lack of knowledge, arrogance, and various prejudices are why people fail to treat nature kindly.
Experiencing such a disaster is the best time for people to adjust their attitudes and learn about nature.
After the TV interview, Fang Ye had some ideas.
He had always planned to create an urban wildlife exhibit, but the idea was still in its infancy.
The native animal exhibit focuses on the animals living on this coastal land, emphasizing their historical changes, past conditions, and current status, provoking thoughts about their future.
The urban wildlife exhibit, however, would focus on the relationship between urban wildlife and humans.
There are many wild animals in the city, close to people, but often unnoticed.
Like the bats in this incident, people knew little about them and never paid attention to their presence in the city.
They didn't know why bats looked the way they did or how to react when encountering them.
In special situations, this could lead to incorrect responses.
Helping citizens understand and demystify these animals through education is a responsibility the zoo should actively undertake.
Most animals like bats have never received the attention they deserve, yet their role in the ecosystem is irreplaceable.
Future plans for the urban wildlife exhibit could include a bat house.
However, this would have to wait until the pandemic was over, as the current environment was too sensitive.
Other common urban issues like bird strikes and stray cats and dogs could also be addressed.
The urban wildlife exhibit would consider these aspects, encouraging visitors to think about how to coexist with these nearby animals and how to build better ecological cities for a more beautiful living environment.
...
The zoo was eerily quiet!
There weren't many visitors to begin with, and now it was closed as of January, following an official notice.
Announcements were posted on the zoo's public accounts and Weibo, informing visitors who had bought tickets online that they could get a refund.
The zoo's fans were understanding and supportive.
"We won't ask for a refund for the tickets we've already bought. Don't let the animals go hungry!"
"I'll visit the cute animals when the zoo reopens. Everything will get better."
"Hang in there! We'll get through this together! If you run out of money, let us know, and we'll donate."
The messages were heartwarming.
Lin Hai Zoo had sufficient funds to last for several months, far from needing donation support.
However, the animals, missing the visitors, were showing signs of loneliness!
Animals that regularly interacted with visitors, like Kazilan, the zoo's most beautiful alpaca, with its white fur and big eyes with long lashes, were particularly affected.
Kazilan, usually surrounded by visitors taking photos and feeding it, seemed listless, had lost its appetite, and often gazed longingly towards the zoo plaza.
Why weren't the visitors coming anymore? Didn't they like me?
Other alpacas, used to going out for walks, grazing on roadside grass, and greeting other animals during the alpaca parade, were now confined to their enclosures and visibly uncomfortable.
They all seemed somewhat unhappy.
Of course, there were those unaffected, like Brother Aotian, who continued to gaze coolly into the distance, indifferent to his companions' behavior.
He seemed to think, "I can endure loneliness!"
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