Bat World Sanctuary was very much on my mind when I penned this piece. Thank you guys for all you do to educate the rest of us regarding these amazing creatures!
Here's a link to an Egyptian fruit bat I hand-raised. She was rescued from a basement hoarding situation. I may sound weird to say, but she was like a child to me: https://batworld.org/peekaboo/
That isn't a weird thing. :) We bond with animals in many ways, some of them incredibly hard to describe in terms of how we bond to humans. Thank you for posting your story and experience with Peekaboo. :)
Excellent article, Ed. I am not at all surprised. I know that the birds and squirrels that I regularly feed seeds and nuts recognize me, as well as the skunk who I befriended lately. It might apply to many non-human animals.
I really love bats and went to an exhibition about bats that has this species. They are so adorable. And it's awesome that they remember different humans.
I couldn't possibly agree more (re "compassionate conservation"). This whole concept is non-existent here in New Zealand, which - after all - was founded on an economic basis of sheep and lamb carcasses -- KILLING. As a result, our vaunted "save the native species" programme thrives on a "kill the invading predators" theme, that is even taught in primary schools, here.
Geoffrey, thank you for your feedback. I have been quite taken by the situation in NZ for a while. Here's a blog I wrote in 2019 about NZ's gamification of wildlife. Let me know what you think:
I think you were spot-on, Ed. These days, a number of NZ communities hold annual rabbit killing competitions (open to all ages). Feral cats are being demonised, with the result that ALL cats are at risk, wherever they may be found, and regardless of their domestic status. Our Department of Conservation (!) operates a full-on propaganda effort in our schools, promoting its anti-"predator" policies.
It's quite discouraging, these days. So, my heartfekt thanks for everything you are doing! Regards, Geoff
Thanks for raising the question of how most people underestimate the cognitive lives of other species. It has become clear to me that language seems to blind us to the mental capacities of others who cannot share their opinions verbally. A huge portion of parents fail to recognize that their infants are seeing an understanding much of what happens around them, because they can not talk about it, and most people fail to recognize the cognitive and emotional lives of non-human species.
Michael, you're absolutely right! It's fascinating how language shapes our perception of intelligence and understanding. Just because a being can't express their thoughts verbally doesn't mean they aren't experiencing or processing the world around them. Your comparison to infants is spot-on; they absorb so much even before they can speak. Similarly, many non-human species have rich cognitive and emotional lives that we are only beginning to appreciate. Recognizing this helps us foster more empathy and respect for all living beings. Thanks for sharing your insight!
Wonderful article! Thank you so much. 💚
Bat World Sanctuary was very much on my mind when I penned this piece. Thank you guys for all you do to educate the rest of us regarding these amazing creatures!
Here's a link to an Egyptian fruit bat I hand-raised. She was rescued from a basement hoarding situation. I may sound weird to say, but she was like a child to me: https://batworld.org/peekaboo/
Amanda, Thank you for sharing Peekaboo's heart warming story; and again thank you for all you do!
That isn't a weird thing. :) We bond with animals in many ways, some of them incredibly hard to describe in terms of how we bond to humans. Thank you for posting your story and experience with Peekaboo. :)
Excellent article, Ed. I am not at all surprised. I know that the birds and squirrels that I regularly feed seeds and nuts recognize me, as well as the skunk who I befriended lately. It might apply to many non-human animals.
I'm confident it does, Perry! I'm glad that "science" is catching up with what many of us know intuitively...
I really love bats and went to an exhibition about bats that has this species. They are so adorable. And it's awesome that they remember different humans.
It's amazing to think they may remember you when you return... Thanks for the feedback, Kitty!
I couldn't possibly agree more (re "compassionate conservation"). This whole concept is non-existent here in New Zealand, which - after all - was founded on an economic basis of sheep and lamb carcasses -- KILLING. As a result, our vaunted "save the native species" programme thrives on a "kill the invading predators" theme, that is even taught in primary schools, here.
Geoffrey, thank you for your feedback. I have been quite taken by the situation in NZ for a while. Here's a blog I wrote in 2019 about NZ's gamification of wildlife. Let me know what you think:
https://edboks.com/2019/05/traditional-conservation-science-is-a-pathological-disorder-just-stop-killing-animals/
I think you were spot-on, Ed. These days, a number of NZ communities hold annual rabbit killing competitions (open to all ages). Feral cats are being demonised, with the result that ALL cats are at risk, wherever they may be found, and regardless of their domestic status. Our Department of Conservation (!) operates a full-on propaganda effort in our schools, promoting its anti-"predator" policies.
It's quite discouraging, these days. So, my heartfekt thanks for everything you are doing! Regards, Geoff
Thanks for raising the question of how most people underestimate the cognitive lives of other species. It has become clear to me that language seems to blind us to the mental capacities of others who cannot share their opinions verbally. A huge portion of parents fail to recognize that their infants are seeing an understanding much of what happens around them, because they can not talk about it, and most people fail to recognize the cognitive and emotional lives of non-human species.
Michael, you're absolutely right! It's fascinating how language shapes our perception of intelligence and understanding. Just because a being can't express their thoughts verbally doesn't mean they aren't experiencing or processing the world around them. Your comparison to infants is spot-on; they absorb so much even before they can speak. Similarly, many non-human species have rich cognitive and emotional lives that we are only beginning to appreciate. Recognizing this helps us foster more empathy and respect for all living beings. Thanks for sharing your insight!