Important update: bats do not spread COVID-19

There have been reports from across the world of bat culling in a misplaced attempt to stop the spread of COVID-19. As an advocate for the protection of all nature, BirdLife is disseminating the following scientific update in order to clarify the facts and end this ecologically damaging practice.

By Jessica Law

As efforts are stepping up around the world to prevent the further spread of coronavirus, there have been numerous reports that communities and government authorities in several regions of the world have been culling bats in a misplaced effort to combat the disease. For BirdLife, this is a sadly familiar situation: at the height of the 2006 avian influenza pandemic, there were widespread calls for the culling of migratory waterbirds, and even the draining of their wetland habitats.

We think it’s important to set the record straight. So here are the latest scientific facts, as delivered to us by the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), the Agreement on the Conservation of Populations of European Bats (EUROBATS) and the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA):

  • Bats do not spread COVID-19. COVID-19 is being transmitted from humans to other humans.
  • There is no evidence that bats directly infected humans with COVID-19 in the first place. Scientific investigations are pointing to a chain of events that may have involved bats but most likely only through an intermediate animal.
  • There are some 1,400 bat species living in the wild around the world. Many have adapted to urban environments, living in backyard gardens, urban parks and even roosting under bridges, without posing the slightest threat to their human neighbours.
  • Bats provide enormous benefits including pollination, seed dispersal and pest control, worth billions of dollars annually.
  • Many bat species are in trouble and need our help to survive. Dozens of bat species are protected by CMS and EUROBATS. But much more needs to be done to ensure the survival of bats around the world. While the killing of bats will not have any effects on the spread of COVID-19, it would adversely affect the conservation status of bat populations.

Source: https://bit.ly/34taFtK

Al Hima Magazine 6th Issue

The Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon (SPNL) has released the sixth issue of Al Hima magazine, focusing on the upcoming IUCN World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi (October 8–15, 2025), where SPNL will join four key sessions. The issue features an exclusive interview with IUCN President Razan Al Mubarak, who emphasizes aligning IUCN’s work with global biodiversity agendas, governance, member responsiveness, multilateral engagement, ethical use of technology, and amplifying diverse voices.

Read Previous issues

spot_img
spot_img

More like this

Jane Goodall – A Pioneering Primatologist

“An Extraordinary Legacy”: A Tribute to Dr. Jane Goodall

By Assad Serhal, Director General of SPNL (BirdLife Lebanon),Winner of the Midori Prize for Biodiversity 2018,Honorary Member...

Arab Multi-Stakeholder Forum on Biodiversity Finance for Climate Resilience...

The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) convened the Arab Multi-Stakeholder Forum on...
The Ministry’s ambitious plan reflects a renewed sense of environmental responsibility that many hope will mark a lasting shift in Lebanon’s approach to conservation

Guardians of Lebanon’s Forests and Seas: A New Chapter...

After years of anticipation, Lebanon has taken a bold and much-needed step toward safeguarding its natural treasures....