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Bonaire Nature & Nature Organizations: Bonaire Reporter Articles
Bonaire Talk: Bonaire Nature & Nature Organizations: The Bats of Bonaire: Bonaire Reporter Articles
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Susan at Bon Bini Divers on Wednesday, July 19, 2000 - 2:45 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

A short while again, there was a rather long discussion about Bonaire's cave and bats. This discussion actually stimulated many private inquiries for more information on our furry little night creatures.

The Bonaire Reporter has been actively reporting on the Bat Action Team's (BAT) efforts, as well as providing natural history information on the bats of Bonaire.

They have kindly offered to allow me to post their articles. I hope you all enjoy them.

Here is the first:

BAT COLUMNs

Photo: Noctilio leporinus Fish eating Bulldog Bat from Bonaire

Fear. What the movie Jaws made you feel about swimming in the ocean, the current movie, Bats, perpetuates fears based on myths and old wives tales which simply arent true about bats.
First of all, there are no vampire bats in Bonaire. Our eight species eat insects, pollinate our cactus and fruit trees, and catch small fish; they do not drink blood.
(Those bats that feed on the blood of birds and some farm animals are found in Mexico, Central America and Northern South America. And they dont suck up blood, they lap it with their tongues like a dog drinks water.)
Bats do not attack people and they wont get caught in your hair. Not only are they not blind, they can also see and steer in the dark by listening to the echoes of their high frequency calls, called echolocation. This helps them pick up insects.
Bonaire bats dont carry rabies because there is no rabies on the island. In those places in the world where there is rabies, once the bat contracts it he dies quickly.
Bats are not filthy and do not transmit disease. Like most mammals, they spend a considerable amount of time grooming to keep their fur clean. However, there is a health concern, histoplasmosis, a fungal disease associated with bat droppings in caves (See Bonaire Reporter May 16-22, Bat Caves Danger to Man).
Concerned that Bonaires bat population may be harmed beyond recovery if something isnt done soon and because bats are Bonaires only listed native mammal and are important to the island as pollinators and mosquito control, the Bonaire Bat Action Team (BAT) was formed to gather further information and spread awareness. One of BATs foremost aims is an bat education campaign which will enlighten adults and school children on the island as well as visiting tourists.
Another major goal of the group is to sponsor further research into species particular to Bonaire and the mapping of caves so that those caves which are sensitive to human intrusion can be closed to further access and those caves less sensitive used for educational purposes.
If you are interested in learning more about the Bonaire BAT group, contact bats@bonairenews.com or susan@bonbinidivers.com orAndre at management@buddydive.com.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Susan at Bon Bini Divers on Tuesday, July 25, 2000 - 8:25 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

BATS

You may recognize this logo, especially those of you who love your Bacardi Cokes.
In 1862 in Santiago de Cuba, when Don Facundo Bacardi and his wife, Dona Amalia, entered their first Bacardi distillery they discovered a colony of fruit bats living in the rafters. Dona Amalia placed great significance on bats because, as a lover of the arts, she knew that Cubas extinct native people, the Tainos, thought of bats as possessors of all cultural goods. And local lore said that bats were thought to bring good health, fortune and especially family unity. She convinced her husband to use the the bat as trademark for their new rum and as a symbol for their family.
The logo was a good business decision as well because so many people in the 19th century couldnt read and a product needed a memorable graphic logo to be identifiable and sell.
Reports of Don Facundos rum, called El del Murcielago (bat)spread quickly over Cuba, but the bat mythology also spread. The bat, local storytellers said, brought good fortune and was considered to add magical powers to the rum.
Today the Bacardi bat appears on their products sold in 170 countries. Although the rum is considered a superior one, the company believes that with the help of the bat as the trademark the companys fortunes have risen to new heights.

Bat Alert: If you find a dead bat you can make a big contribution to the bat research going on of Bonaires bat species. Put it in your freezer in a plastic bag and call Coen Vos at DROB (Government Roads and Environment Department) at tel. 5130 or 8130.
Researchers can get important information from knowing where it was found, what kind of condition it was in and what it had been eating (by checking the contents of its stomach).

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Antonio Ferrer on Wednesday, July 26, 2000 - 5:36 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Susan, I showed your post to my wife, and she said: "If you even imagine, in your dreams, that you are going to put a &#$%*~# dead bat in MY freezer, you are out of your mind!" (She said that in Portuguese, but you get the drift!)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Susan at Bon Bini Divers on Wednesday, July 26, 2000 - 1:55 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hi--I had to admit, I laughted at your posting, but believe it or not, we (the Bat Action Team) have been told about one already! Tell your wife, it's okay with us--she has an exemption!

Susan

Here's some more:

DANGER TO MAN


A very debilitating disease, "histoplasnosis," comes from the pollen put into the air by certain fungi which grows on bat guano found in caves. It enters a victim's bloodstream and hi respiratory system and attaches itself to the lungs. Symptoms are coughing, shortness of breath and a considerable loss of weight. It is like a bad case of the flu which goes on for months. Often, this disease is written off as a bad cold. Research has shown that the victim will carry this in his body forever, like malaria. It may not recur, but the damage will have been done. Biologist(s) studying the bats in Curaao contracted this disease.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ken Baranoski on Thursday, July 27, 2000 - 11:55 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

I have just read an article in a Caribbean travel magazine re. Bonaire. It was a good article, until they tried to get into a cave. They described crawling through the bat guano. I wonder if they realize the danger they put themselves in.
It was a little disturbing knowing you want to keep the caves "low-key" and yet there it was, complete with photo.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Susan at Bon Bini Divers on Friday, July 28, 2000 - 9:10 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hi Ken:

Although I haven't yet seen the article, I would hazard a guess that the author(s)may have entered some caves which they probably shouldn't have. The regular "cave snorkel" tour which is offered by Buddy Dive does not utilize sensitive caves or caves which bats inhabit, and therefore, would not have guano with the possiblity of contracting histoplasnosis.

I will look for the article to check it out. Thanks for bringing it up!

Susan

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Susan at Bon Bini Divers on Wednesday, August 16, 2000 - 11:18 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Here's some info.

MORE BAT LUCK

Its not just the Bacardi family (see last weeks Bonaire Reporter) that appreciate bats. For centuries the Chinese have known that bats bring good luck This design, called the Wu-Fu, is made up of five bats whose wingtips touch or sometimes interlock, circled around the tree of life, and can be found decorating many Chinese objects from bowls to robes, on medallions, on coins, to the thrones of kings. Maybe youve seen it yourself.
The Chinese word for happiness is also the word for bat: fu. Although written differently, fu is pronounced the same, so bats occur often in Chinese conversation, especially during marriage ceremonies and other happy celebrations.
The five bats, Wu-Fu, stand for the five great happinesses that all people desire: Health, Wealth, Long Life, Good Luck and Peace of Mind.
Many bat organizations such as Bat Conservation International (BCI) have adopted the Wu-Fu as their logo.
Bonaire is blessed with eight species of bats which bring the island many happinesses: our abundant cactus and fruit trees which are home and food to many animals and colorful songbirds. Not only that, but they act as a vigilant nightly mosquito control. Lets leave them alone in their homes the caves so they can continue to bring us good luck on this beautiful island.

BAT CAVES - DANGER TO MAN
In Bonaire there are no blood sucking vampire bats. And there should be no fear that bats carry rabies. In the rare chance that they do contract it (less than of 1% )they die quickly, just like other animals do.
However, there is a greater danger associated with entering the caves where the bats live. A very debilitating disease, histoplasmois, comes from the spores put into the air by certain fungi which grows on bat guano found in caves. This fungus enters the bloodstream and respiratory system and attaches itself to the lungs. It may be very slow in developing, usually 3 to 17 days after exposure. Vague symptoms will appear: fever, fatigue and weight loss, chest pain, dry or nonproductive cough, headache. The victim becomes short of breath and may have loss of appetite or chills. It is like a bad case of the flu which goes on for months. A chest x-ray will reveal lung spots. Studies have shown that the victim will carry this in his body forever, like malaria. It may not recur, but the damage will have been done. The most severe and rarest form of this disease is disseminated histoplasmosis, which involves spreading of the fungus to other organs outside the lungs. This can be fatal if untreated.
While studying the bats in Curacao and Bonaire one of the biologists contracted histoplasmois, with all the symptoms, which included a tremendous weight loss. Her doctors couldnt identify it until she told them she had been working in caves.
Compiled from Histoplasmosis Protecting Workers at Risk

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Susan at Bon Bini Divers on Tuesday, September 26, 2000 - 7:32 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

BATS EAT BUGS July 11, 2000
Wonder why Bonaire doesn't have more mosquitoes? Meet the Palla's Mastiff
Bat (molossus molossus pygmaeus) and thank them for being here because every
evening they start gobbling mosquitoes that would normally be eating you.
These little guys, only a few inches long begin their mosquito hunts early
in the evening often before sunset. You can see them flying, seemingly
erratically, sometimes high in the air and sometimes near the ground,
depending on where the insects are. Both males and females have large
internal cheek pouches and when they are filled to capacity, the bat returns
to its roost to chew and swallow its catch. Just one of these bats can
consume up to 3,000 insects a night!
If left undisturbed by humans entering their caves they can roost in groups
of up to hundreds of individuals. This translates to mean: the more bats,
the more mosquitos get eaten every night.
The Bonaire Bat Action Team (BAT) was formed when it became apparent that
our bats are being disturbed by so many people going into caves where the
creatures are roosting. Before the bat population is harmed beyond recovery,
BAT wants to gather information and spread awareness and education about
Bonaire's only native mammals that are so important as pollinators and
mosquito control.
The BAT group, preparing to become a foundation, has made arrangements for a
biologist to come to Bonaire in September to begin research: where the bats
are, where the nurseries are, size of colonies, which species are where,
etc. They hope to get the children of the island as well as the students
from Jong Bonaire involved. Lion's Dive Hotel has offered free
accommodations to the biologist, but she will still need a car while she's
here and the cost of airfare from Curacao. If anyone could help out, it
would be very much appreciated. Contact one of the BAT HOTLINE numbers
below.
BAT is beginning the mapping of bat caves on the island. If you know of
locations yourself, please call one of the BAT HOTLINE numbers. The sooner
BAT knows the location of the caves and whether bats do roost there the
sooner those caves sensitive to human intrusion can be identified and the
bats protected.
Lastly, if anyone finds a dead bat please put it in a plastic bag and put it
in your freezer, noting the location where it was found. This is an
invaluable aid to BAT's research. Call Coen Vos at DROB tel. 717-5130 or
717-8130 or one of the following numbers.
For any information call the BAT HOTLINES: The Bonaire Reporter (tel.
717-8988, e-mail BAT@bonairenews.com), Andre at Buddy Dive (tel. 717-5080,
e-mail management@buddydive.com) or Susan Davis at Bon Bini Divers (tel.
717-5425, e-mail susan@bonbinidivers.com). L.D.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Lonnie Darr on Thursday, September 28, 2000 - 4:39 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

In what coordinate system will the location of the bat caves and other bat homes 'as molossus molossus pygmaeus is an urban dweller" be presented? I might suggest something that is easily taken from GPS receivers and can be mapped on a more worldwide coordinate system.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Susan at Bon Bini Divers on Friday, September 29, 2000 - 8:40 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hi Lonnie--We ARE using GPS in the mapping of the cave systems, so that it will be highly accurate for all purposes. Then these coordinates are transferred to a central map system (with extreme detail) of the island.

Feel free to write with any other ideas! We're all ears! Susan

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Glen Reem on Friday, September 29, 2000 - 10:48 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Susan,

What Lat/long accuracy are you able to get w/
your GPS? Is DGPS available there?

Glen

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Susan at Bon Bini Divers on Monday, October 2, 2000 - 10:04 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hi Glen, currently we are using handheld units, which give us an accuracy of up to 3 meters/10 feet. Somtimes, it is a little less, but in no way less than 10 meters, 30 feet.

As of yet, we don't have DGPS here, but maybe some day in the future. As I've been told, Bonaire would need its own pin-point station for this, and the costs are around US$50,000. Our Harbour Office would like to see DGPS come to Bonaire as quickly as possible, and is looking for funds to do it.

But for now, we use the handheld units.

Thanks again for your interest--keep the questions coming!

Susan

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Glen Reem on Monday, October 2, 2000 - 11:06 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

TKS, Susan.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Susan at Bon Bini Divers on Thursday, October 5, 2000 - 10:57 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Here's some more news!

MORE ON BATS
We thought you'd enjoy seeing one of the local Bonairean bats hard at work,
pollinating a banana flower. The photo was taken by Bas Tol. We believe it
to be a Miller's Long Tongued Bat (glossophaga longirotris). They feed on
nectar, pollen, fruit and insects. Being the least specialized of the
long-tongues, they have a broad diet. In their roosts in caves they hang
spaced apart in colonies of a half dozen to many hundreds of individuals.
Leon Pors of Carmabi (Caribbean Research and Management of Biodiversity
Foundation) in Curaao reports: Did you know that nectar-eating bats, in
scientific circles, are known as "whispering bats?" Their echo-signals are
very weak as compared to those of the insect-eating species which rely
almost exclusively on their echo-location abilities. However, the nectar
feeders seem to have excellent eyesight, which might explain their "low
voices."
Coen Vos, a member of the Bonaire BAT (Bat Action Team), made a presentation
to Stinapa recently to explain the goals of the BAT organization. Stinapa
agreed to help and support the group and include them in the organization
which is planned whereby contributions to non-profit organizations here may
be tax deductible in the U.S.
BAT's goals are to educate and make the public aware of the bats' importance
to the island as pollinators and mosquito controllers and to sponsor further
research into caves and native bat species so that those caves which are
sensitive to human intrusion can be protected before it's too late. L.D.

BATS - WHERE ARE THEY?
Some members of the Bonaire Bat Action Team (BAT) went out recently to begin
the mapping of possible bat caves, using GPS (Global Positioning System).
One group located the entrances to seven and a half caves in the Barcadera
area; the second group found entrances to five caves in the area from
Spelonk to Porto Spano. Of the 12 caves investigated only one bat was
found. The reaction from the team: "Where are these animals?" Hopefully, the
bats are still alive, having relocated, possibly due to human intrusion into
these particular caves.
The National Trust for the Cayman Islands found that constructing bat houses
not only provides a habitat for these important misunderstood animals, The
Cayman group says that not only are bats important in pollination and
dispersing seeds, but they are a major control of insects, not only
mosquitoes but also moths and beetles and their larvae, many of which are
crop pests. Even fruit bats make 25% of their diet from insects found on and
around fruit trees, thus helping to protect the very crops they also damage.
Perhaps the BAT group will find that bat houses can benefit Bonaire. L.D.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Barry Baker on Thursday, October 5, 2000 - 12:47 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Forgive me, but what is half a cave?

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Glen Reem on Thursday, October 5, 2000 - 6:41 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I also wonder at 'half a cave'. Ah, scientists.

Would enjoy a link to the referenced photo.
Articles extracted from a publication???

Perhaps 'whispering bats' don't need high
intensity 'echo-location' for navigation where
insect-eaters do for good location of small
insects. Do insect-eaters use a lower intensity
for navigation and high-intensity for hunting?

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Susan at Bon Bini Divers on Tuesday, October 17, 2000 - 12:03 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Dear Barry and Glen--

Sorry, I've been away from the newsgroup for awhile. I would imagine the "half" of cave that is referenced refers to a cavern entry. Many bats use these too. Regarding the photos, at this time, I can't add them (I don't get them from the Bonaire Reporter when I get their articles), but I will ask them for the future. Also, of course, a subscription would always give the link to you automatically.

We hope to know more about the various frequencies that our bats use when the researcher comes from Curacao. We are hoping to have that all organized within the next few weeks. We were forced to postpone it a bit due to her schedule.

Hope this helps!

Susan

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Glen Reem on Tuesday, October 17, 2000 - 1:57 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

TKS, Susan. I do get the Bonaire Reporter.
Perhaps you could reference photos by issue
of BR if you are unable to include them here.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Susan at Bon Bini Divers on Thursday, October 19, 2000 - 7:25 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

No problem! I have already spoken with the Bonaire Reporter to see if I can get the photos, too!

Susan

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Susan at Bon Bini Divers on Friday, November 24, 2000 - 8:35 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Here's some more Bat News. For those of you requesting pictures, the Bonaire Reporter has kindly agreed to include the entire Bat story with pictures in their weekly highlights version, whenever pictures are used. In the meantime, here are more text articles! Don't forget the Bonaire Reporter is only $25.00 for a year for the online subscription.


>From The Bonaire Reporter - Oct. 24 - 30
Preparations are underway for a major lengthening of the runway at Flamingo
International Airport. While the initial cost estimate has already escalated
by millions of guilders, one bright light is the discovery that the
necessary fill can be obtained without dynamite blasting as was first
considered. Residents of Belnem and Lima should be particularly pleased that
the nearby caves, home to the mosquito eating bats, will be protected, at
least for the moment.

>From The Bonaire Reporter - Oct. 10 -16
Members of the Bonaire BAT (Bat Action Team) group made a presentation to
the Tourist Guide Training Class recently, followed by a lively question and
answer session.
Q. How long do bats live?
A. The oldest bat found was 34 years old. Bats, for their size, are the
world;s longest living mammal, but unlike other mammals their size they have
very low reproductive rates. Females of most species produce only one pup
per year!
Q. Are bats related to birds?
A. They both can fly, but bats are in the class Mammalia, and just like
humans they are mammals, which means they are warm blooded, have hair, ber
live young and feed their babies milk.
Q. Is it true what is said about bats in folklore?
A. Most of it is all false. Bats don't fly into your hair; they don't suck
your blood. They're interested in nectar or mosquitos, not attacking people.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Susan at Bon Bini Divers on Monday, November 27, 2000 - 10:40 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

More news..............

>From The Bonaire Reporter - Oct. 31 - Nov. 6
Everyone knows that Van Gogh painted sunflowers, but did you know
he painted bats as well? "Vleermuis (bat)" by V. van Gogh, 1885.
BAT NEEDS YOUR HELP
The BAT (Bat Action Team) volunteers need your help. They have been
identifying and mapping the caves of Bonaire to determine where our only
native mammal, the bat, is living so that they can see which of those caves
are sensitive to human intrusion. So far they have located about 40 caves in
the areas of Spelunk, Lima, Barcadera and Seru Largu. Of these caves, only
about 12 were inhabited by bats, and the populations were way down in most
of them from those numbers reported by locals who'd visited the caves over
the years. If you have any knowledge of caves, perhaps on your property,
where you think bats may be living, please let the BAT volunteers know at
the following addresses. Susan Davis at 717-5425 (susan@bonbinidivers.com);
Coen Vos at 717-5130 (drob@bonairelive.com); Laura at 717-8988
(laura@bonairenews.com); or Andre at 717-5080 (diveshop@buddydive.com).

In past years, eight species of bats have been reported as living on the
island: insect eaters, flower and fruit pollinaters and fish eaters. But
things have changed a lot which may have affected those numbers. Housing
construction near and on top of caves, dynamiting and blasting near the
airport, cave diving, snorkeling and spelunking - all have disturbed the
habitats of these misunderstood "keystone species." Bonaire needs its bats
to pollinate the cactus which holds the whole island together. It needs its
insect eaters to keep the mosquito population in control.
And there's such a simple solution: Stay out of the caves where the bats are
living and raising their young.
In many areas of the world bat houses have been introduced to replace the
bat roosts lost to development. Whether or not they will work in Bonaire
remains to be seen, but BAT volunteers are working on a bat house project
now.
In Westchester County, New York, Rob Gatto wanted to find a sure fire way to
get rid of every mosquito in the county, protecting people from the West
Nile virus, malaria, sleeping sickness, dengue fever and the yaws. There
were so many mosquitoes outside his home that he and his family couldn't
enjoy their deck or barbeque. When he discovered a colony of bats roosting
at the other end of his house and keeping the mosquitos away, he decided to
install bat houses near his deck and encouraged the bats to move in. They
did and ever since there hasn't been a mosquito in sight and the Gatto
family can use their deck at all hours. If bats can do that for Mr. Gatto,
he says, they can do the same for the rest of the county.

 


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