Going batty: US bat imports raise concerns for species conservation and human health.

ABSTRACT: The relationship between bats (order: Chiroptera) and humans is complex, highly contextualized across the globe, and dynamic. We assessed the United States (US) importation of live bats, as well as bat-derived products, from bat conservation and human health (zoonotic disease) perspectives. From 2015 to 2023, at least 284 bat species were imported into the US from at least 106 countries of origin, predominantly Indonesia. Scientific use was the most frequently declared import purpose. According to the IUCN Red List, thirty-seven of these bat species are extinction vulnerable. An investigation of US-based e-commerce platforms for live bats and bat-derived products located ads for 28 bat species for sale, including one for which trade is prohibited. Considering zoonotic spillover risk, we id

SUBMITTER: Tarango M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11914502 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature