A Mission to End Bat Extinctions Worldwide

Abstract: Bats comprise over 20% of all mammalian species and provide essential ecosystem services, including insect pest consumption, seed dispersal, and pollination. However, bats face numerous threats, including habitat loss, persecution, disease, and climate change. This article explores the fascinating biology and important ecological roles of bats, as well as the anthropogenic pressures they face, and outlines the conservation strategies led by Bat Conservation International (BCI) to prevent bat extinctions. The author presents a prioritization framework integrating species vulnerability, feasibility of intervention, and potential for positive impact. Case studies illustrate effective conservation action: protecting hot caves habitats in Jamaica for the Jamaican flower bat ( Phyllonycteris aphylla ) and restoring agave plants for foraging resources for migratory Mexican long-nosed bats ( Leptonycteris nivalis ). The call to action is grounded in a mission to use actionable science to scale endangered species interventions, restore critical habitats, and inspire and catalyze global efforts to conserve bat diversity. This synthesis underscores the urgency and feasibility of coordinated conservation strategies to halt the global decline of bats.