Bat Day on April 5 at the Vienna Zoo Schönbrunn

The premiere of the famous operetta "Die Fledermaus" took place on April 5, 1874, at the Theater an der Wien. In honor of this, an information stand with a craft corner on the topic of bats will be set up on Saturday from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM at the Vienna Zoo Schönbrunn together with the Bat Station Austria in the zoo's ORANG.erie.

Vienna Zoo Schönbrunn celebrates Bat Day

Visitors can expect plenty of information about the flying mammals, especially native bats. The crafting fun is not neglected. Whether designing bat masks or making mini bats: creativity knows no bounds.

"Bats are incredibly fascinating animals that are often difficult to observe in the wild. A visit to our terrarium house is therefore all the more worthwhile. There, tropical flower bats can be observed feeding. Unlike the many insect-eating bat species, they primarily feed on nectar and pollen, which they skillfully extract from flowers with their long tongues," explains Zoo Director Stephan Hering-Hagenbeck. Due to this diet, flower bats and many other tropical bat species are important pollinators.

Native bats as natural insect police

Native bats can be spotted especially during evening walks in the summer sky. "Currently, 28 species of bats are documented in Austria. Nine of them can be found in the zoo area, such as the noctule, the barbastelle, and the Daubenton's bat. They find suitable food and protective retreats with us," says Hering-Hagenbeck.

Native bats primarily eat insects, which they skillfully catch in flight thanks to echolocation. The animals act like a natural insect police, as they keep the populations of mosquitoes and the like in check. They are completely harmless to humans.

Habitat of bats in Austria threatened

Unfortunately, the destruction of natural habitats and the use of insecticides are affecting native bats. Direct disturbances, such as tree cutting during hibernation, also harm them. All native species are strictly protected.

"Bats rely on our help. A diverse garden design with native plants or herbs like sage and mint in the flower bed attract insects, which means bat food. Those who buy organic consciously choose against the use of pesticides. This also means more food for bats. Bat boxes – from the store or self-made – provide the animals with additional shelter," says Regina Kramer, curator for species conservation and research at Schönbrunn Zoo.

(Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.