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Dr. Tanja M. Straka

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Guest Editor

Institute of Ecology, Technische Universität Berlin, Rothenburgstr. 12, 12565 Berlin, Germany
Interests: urban ecology; conservation ecology; bats; conservation social sciences

Dr. Ewan Macdonald

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Guest Editor

Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
Interests: ecology; transdisciplinary conservation; human dimensions; conservation marketing

Prof. Dr. Joanna Coleman

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Guest Editor

Department of Biology, Queens College at the City University of New York, New York, NY, USA
Interests: urban ecology; conservation biology; human dimensions; environmental psychology; bats

Prof. Dr. Tigga Kingston

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Guest Editor

Department of Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA
Interests: conservation ecology; bats; human dimensions
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Bats are a key component of global and local biodiversity, and the rapid conversion of natural habitats to human-dominated land uses increasingly brings people and bats into contact, with both positive and negative outcomes. Bats, arguably more than most other taxa, face an image crisis (they are widely maligned), which makes bat conservation more challenging. Furthermore, research on human–bat interactions often focuses on conflict, whereas reports of successful conservation interventions are underrepresented. Yet, human–bat interactions fall on a spectrum, and promoting information about positive interactions would facilitate management practices that emphasize coexistence, rather than conflict, with bats. Clearly, human behaviors toward bats, as toward other wildlife, are complex and require contextual understanding, especially given the urgent need for their conservation.

The aim of this Special Issue is to provide a platform to explore the spectrum of human–bat interactions and present successful interventions that have addressed human–bat conflicts in different contexts. We particularly invite manuscripts addressing:

Interventions intended to solve human–bat conflicts; here, we invite success stories as well as manuscripts reporting on lessons learned from less-successful interventions.
Social science theories and concepts applied to the antecedents of human–bat conflicts (e.g., attitudes, emotions, beliefs etc).
The full spectrum of human–bat interactions (i.e., positive and negative).

References:

Low, M. R., Hoong, W. Z., Shen, Z., Murugavel, B., Mariner, N., et al. (2021). Bane or blessing? Reviewing cultural values of bats across the Asia-Pacific region. Journal of Ethnobiology, 41(1), 18-34

MacFarlane, D., & Rocha, R. (2020). Guidelines for communicating about bats to prevent persecution in the time of COVID-19. Biological Conservation, 248, 108650.

Prokop, P., Fančovičová, J., & Kubiatko, M. (2009). Vampires are still alive: Slovakian students' attitudes toward bats. Anthrozoös, 22(1), 19-30.

Straka, T. M., Coleman, J., Macdonald, E. A., & Kingston, T. (2021). Human dimensions of bat conservation–10 recommendations to improve and diversify studies of human-bat interactions. Biological Conservation, 262, 109304.

Dr. Tanja M. Straka
Dr. Ewan Macdonald
Prof. Dr. Joanna Coleman
Prof. Dr. Tigga Kingston
Guest Editors

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Keywords

bats
human–wildlife interactions
human dimensions of wildlife
conservation psychology
conservation social sciences
conservation applications

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 2385 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Negative Perception of Bats, Exacerbated by the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic, May Hinder Bat Conservation in Northern Uganda

by Imran Ejotre, DeeAnn M Reeder, Kai Matuschewski, Robert Kityo and Juliane Schaer

Sustainability 2022, 14(24), 16924; https://doi.org/10.3390/su142416924 - 16 Dec 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2592

Abstract

Bats face diverse challenges that cause global bat population declines, including habitat loss and roost disturbance. Additionally, negative perceptions of bats and their potential role in several zoonotic diseases have led to actions against bats. We documented existing knowledge and perception of bats through interviews with 151 participants of fifteen tribes in Northern Uganda in 2020 and conducted a sensitization campaign that prevented planned actions against bats. The interviews revealed distinct firm beliefs, negative perceptions, limited knowledge on bats, and the influence of media in shaping actions against bats. In addition, modified landscapes and habitat loss increased encounters and subsequent deterioration of relations between humans and bats. Targeted threats towards bats were exacerbated by public misinformation during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. No deliberate conservation efforts exist, and negative perception largely hampers the implementation of bat conservation in Northern Uganda. Importantly, the study also demonstrates that sensitization campaigns can be effective tools to protect bats in the short term. Regular sensitizations and education are recommended for sustainable changes in attitudes to and coexistence with bats. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Human-Bat Interactions and Sustainable Conservation)

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17 pages, 1056 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Threat Perception, Emotions and Social Trust of Global Bat Experts before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic

by Tanja M. Straka and Christian C. Voigt

Sustainability 2022, 14(18), 11242; https://doi.org/10.3390/su141811242 - 08 Sep 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1831

Abstract

Speculations about the origin of SARS-CoV-2 have catapulted bats into the spotlight of scientific and societal attention, with unforeseen consequences for bat conservation. In two global surveys with bat experts before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, we assessed their (i) threat perceptions, emotions towards bats and social trust in decision makers and (ii) the predictive potential of emotions, social trust and socio-demographic variables on threat perceptions. We also discuss (iii) the potential influence of the pandemic on threat perception and antecedents (emotions and social trust). We received 495 responses from 65 countries in September 2019 and 320 responses in June 2020 from 77 countries. We identified three major threat categories (indirect, direct and prejudice). Comparing threat perception, emotions and social trust between both surveys, we found that indirect threats (e.g., habitat modification) were considered as crucial, yet less so during the pandemic. During the pandemic, experts rated indirect threats lower and the perceived threat through prejudice (e.g., myths) higher than before the pandemic. During the pandemic, bat experts also expressed more compassion and sadness related to bats and trust in researchers and NGOs, but less trust in laypeople than before the pandemic. Emotions were particularly important predictors for threats through prejudice besides social trust. Socio-demographic variables (e.g., cultural and professional background) had predictive potential predominantly for direct threats (e.g., hunting and trade, wind turbines) and threats through prejudice. Our study highlights the role of emotions and social trust on threat perception among bat experts who remained relatively invisible during the pandemic despite their key role for bat conservation. More importantly, we echo previous calls to be more attentive to ecological grief also within the scientific community; especially as discussions around zoonotic spillover with valued study animals intensify. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Human-Bat Interactions and Sustainable Conservation)

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