INTRO

Hello my name is Jonelle and today i’ll be discussing Habitat Loss. Habitat destruction contributes to the damage of the animal population globally. Our main argument is tackling the issue with bats and the brutal loss of their homes.

PARAGRAPH 1 - Habitat of Bats

Bats live in a variety of habitats, including caves, forests and even urban areas. They have been living on earth for 50 million years, evolving and thriving in various environments. Paleontologists estimate they date back to the Eocene times. Their usual habitats are Caves, which offer natural roosting sites with stable temperatures and protection from predators, Trees, which provide hallows, foliage or crevices for bats to settle and Urban areas which offer structures like buildings & bridges that bats use as perch sites. 

PARAGRAPH 2 - Impact

So what issue are we tackling? Bat populations are declining all over the world due to deforestation to make more space for roads and buildings, in other words, urbanization. 

According to the Bureau Of Land Management, a federal department of lands, many ecosystems would gradually die, and plants would fail to provide food and cover for wildlife species near the base of the food chain. I dont have the exact percentages for bats declining, but i managed to gather that 5.5 million bats have died from white nose syndrome since 2006 (WNS which is transmitted from humans and their gears entering caves).

The destruction of bat habitats have a significant impact on bat populations. When their habitats are destroyed, bats lose their perching sites and foraging grounds, which led to a decline in their numbers. Deforestation, urbanization, Agricultural expansion, disease spread from humans, it disrupts the delicate balance of ecosystems and can have cascading effects on other species that rely on bats for pollination & pest control.

PARAGRAPH 3 - Solution

So what can we do to help bats? I introduce a solution that does not entirely fix the issue, but it can tackle and benefit bats when they are properly made, bat boxes.

You can create boxes or tubes, but my group and I decided to build boxes with the source we have. The boxes are designed with specific features, such as narrow entrances and rough interior surfaces to mimic natural roosting sites like the cavities. Their natural space being dark and rough, bats are provided safety and camouflage from predators. The rough surface gives them something to cling with their claws. I think our solution mocks the perfect environment for bats.