The Painted Woolly Bat: this species has orange-and-black features that make it look almost like a Halloween decoration
The scientific name of this species is Kerivoula picta, and it's commonly known as the painted woolly bat, thanks to its colorful appearance and thick, curly fur. Researchers believe that the bright orange patterns might actually serve as a form of camouflage, because witnesses often report that the bats seem to "blend in" with the dried leaves and flowers in which they typically roost.
For several months each year, these bats live in small family units that normally contain two adults and one pup, and then they spend the rest of the year living alone. They often reconnect with the same reproductive partner during each breeding season, however.
Unfortunately, this species is increasingly threatened by the international demand for so-called "bat décor:"
Painted woolly bats (Kerivoula picta) are collected and killed in their native habitat in South and Southeast Asia and sold as décor globally. The United States is a major and growing market for this trade: the U.S. has imported hundreds of painted woolly bats over recent years. As this species is not bred in captivity, all the bats are taken from the wild.
Painted woolly bat populations are declining. The International Union for Conservation of Nature assessed the species as “near threatened,” yet few nations within the species’ range offer the bats effective protection from killing. The bats live in China, India, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam.
Given that they only produce one offspring at a time, painted woolly bats are particularly vulnerable to trade. Scientists have been raising concerns about the potential harms of the bat décor trade for nearly a decade, yet the market has only grown. Online listings offering painted woolly bats for sale are plentiful on major ecommerce websites.
This article provides more information about the threats that this species is currently facing and the ongoing efforts to protect it.
Sources & More Info:
Bat Conservation International: Kerivoula picta
Thai National Parks: Painted Bat
Mammal Study: The Ecology and Monogamous System of the Painted Woolly Bat, Kerivoula picta
Ecology and Evolution: Bat Mating Systems
Cambridge University Press: Growing Concern Over Trade in Bat Souvenirs from Southeast Asia
European Journal of Wildlife Research: Dying for Décor
Center for Biological Diversity: Endangered Species Act Protections Sought for Painted Woolly Bats
Center for Biological Diversity: Going to Bat for Painted Woolly Bats
UC Davis: E-Sales of a Wild Bat Sold as Décor Threaten Species
