Bats are known carriers of various viruses, including those that can transmit to humans through a process called zoonotic spillover. Sometimes, these viruses are directly transmitted from bats to people. However, scientists also believe that bats can pass deadly viruses to other animals, which then infect humans.
A recent video from Uganda offers visual evidence of numerous wild animals interacting with bats. This interaction highlights the many opportunities for bat viruses to jump to new species. The video was released alongside a research paper that is currently undergoing peer review.
On February 17th, Ugandan wildlife biologist Bosco Atukwatse, associated with the Kyambura Lion Project, placed solar-powered camera traps near Python Cave in the Maramagambo Forest, located within Queen Elizabeth National Park. His initial goal was to gather data on leopards and spotted hyenas in the forest.
Through a combination of curiosity and chance, Atukwatse captured footage of far more than just leopards. The cameras recorded a continuous stream of 13 other predator species over hundreds of nights. These included large-spotted genets, African civets, African fish eagles, African rock pythons, L’Hoest’s monkeys, and baboons. Python Cave is inhabited by an estimated 50,000 Egyptian fruit bats, and the predators were observed emerging from the cave with bats, either hunted or scavenged, in their mouths.
3 Comments
ytkonos
Is this a government study? Who is funding with your taxes?
lettlelenok
Bats and predators sharing food! This is how diseases spread!
Comandante
Correlation doesn't equal causation. We don't know this is the cause.