Moody Gardens to celebrate Year of the Bat in 2012

The new year has arrived, and now Houston animal lovers have a reason to celebrate.

Throughout 2012 Moody Gardens will bring attention to an often overlooked, but important animal: the bat.

The United Nations has declared 2012 as International Year of the Bat and Bat Conservation International (BCI) as an International Year of the Bat founding partner.

Moody Gardens will launch its efforts early in 2012 with opportunities for the public to get involved in the conservation mission. The International Year of the Bat campaign aims to raise global awareness about bats, bat conservation and the unique roles bats play in our environment.

The big question is what would the world be like without bats? The answer is we could find out sooner than we think.

Bat Conservation International statistics show that more than 50 percent of American bat species are in severe decline or already listed as endangered.

Losses are occurring at alarming rates worldwide. They are also the slowest reproducing mammals on earth for their size, most producing only one pup annually.

Bats are more essential than many realize. These endangered species help maintain healthy ecosystems and economies.

They consume huge quantities of crop-destroying agricultural pests, disperse seeds to replenish rainforests and pollinate countless plants.

Many bats are endangered, and the loss of a single species can have ramifications throughout the environment. Such a loss will increase the demand for chemical pesticides, jeopardizing whole ecosystems or other animal and plant species.

“These animals help maintain our ecosystem and are even important in large metropolitan areas such as Houston,” said Assistant Curator/ Registrar Paula Kolvig.

“Year of the Bat will give Moody Gardens the opportunity to highlight the importance of protecting these animals and will show visitors different conservation efforts they can do as well.”

Bats need more help than ever. Since 2006, millions of hibernating bats have died from a disease known as White-nose Syndrome (WNS), which is caused by a cold-loving white fungus typically found on the faces and wings of infected bats.

WNS causes bats to awaken more often during hibernation and use up the stored fat reserves that are needed to get them through the winter.

Infected bats often emerge too soon from hibernation and are seen flying around in midwinter. These bats usually freeze or starve to death.

To aid in the fundraising efforts, Moody Gardens will host a special event on Feb. 11, 2012 called “Bat’s Are Doing It.”

This event will feature guest speaker James Eggers who is the Director of Education for the organization Bat Conservation International (BCI).

For more information about Year of the Bat visit batcon.org/yotb, call Moody Gardens 800-582-4673 or visit www.moodygardens.org.