European Bat Night is celebrated annually in over 30 countries around the world. The Agreement on the Conservation of Bats in Europe (EUROBATS) has been in force for Bulgaria since 1999.

Bats are small animals of the class Mammalia. Their distinctive feature is that their forelimbs have grown into wings. Bats are the only mammals capable of active flight, although some other species can fly short distances. There are 33 species in Bulgaria out of 35 in Europe and all are insectivorous. Bats are very beneficial because many of the insects they feed on are agricultural pests. In urban settings bats help control mosquito populations, with one small brown bat being able to eat about 1200 mosquitoes in one hour.

Bats are one of the most widely distributed groups of mammals. The ability to fly has helped “disperse” them to different parts of the planet. They inhabit all continents except Antarctica, the northernmost parts of Europe, Asia and the Americas and some remote islands. Bats have adapted to a wide variety of lifestyles and occupy extremely diverse ecological niches.

Eleven children and young people from 5 to 14 years old visited RIEW - Haskovo on 29 August on the occasion of the European Bat Night. They learned interesting facts about the mysterious mammal, watched a presentation of the Stara Zagora Wild Animal Rescue Center on the treatment of injured specimens, they painted and made bat masks. The event was concluded with a quiz on the topic with many prizes.