Science and bats in Madagascar
Little is known about the bats of Madagascar. On this project, I accompanied a group of investigators working for Global Change and Conservation to report on the work they accomplish with these fascinating animals. We went on diverse expeditions that aimed to study the ecology of this group in remote areas as well as their interaction with the local communities. In the latter case, the relationship is somewhat complicated, as on the one hand bats are vectors for some diseases, and on the other, they can contribute to mitigate insect plagues that feed on the rice that the communities depend on. This is compounded by the fact that some local traditions are superstitious and fady that vary from one region to another and involve bat-philia or phobia which renders this balance even more complex.
