Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Blaming The Bats

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the kree-kree-off-into-the-night-searching-for-bananas dept.

d'alz writes "Bats have long been the subject of various conflicting theories. They have been linked with lethal viruses that cause Ebola hemorrhagic fever, SARS, Nipah or Hendra. But of late researchers have taken a complete shift in these theories. They now claim that bats are being blamed for human mistakes. It now seems that these outbreaks could be a direct result of the encroachments that took place over the years in the rainforests." From the article: "Emerging viruses like the one that causes SARS are symptoms of the drastic, large-scale changes humans are making in the life of the planet. At a time of intense concern about avian flu, it is hardly controversial to argue that human health is linked to animal health. But the field challenges traditional academic divisions, especially the cultural divide between doctors and veterinarians."

5 of 63 comments (clear)

  1. It's not the people, it's the cows!?!!1111 by crazyjeremy · · Score: 4, Interesting

    http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4398660.stm article saying Vampire Bats in brazil are killing humans (23 in the last 2 months.) In all 1,300 people have been treated for rabies from bat bites. Some experts blame it on deforestation. Others blame it on lots of cows (really, see article). "Mass attacks on humans have occurred in other cattle regions in Latin America when the cattle are suddenly removed."

    --
    Funnypics
  2. Of course we're the problem by SgtPepperKSU · · Score: 3, Funny

    I'd like to share a revelation that I've had during my time here. It came to me when I tried to classify your species, and I realised that humans are not actually mammals. Every mammal on this planet instinctively develops a natural equilibrium with the surrounding environment; but you humans do not. Instead you multiply, and multiply, until every resource is consumed. The only way for you to survive is to spread to another area. There is another organism on this planet that follows the same pattern... a virus. Human beings are a disease, a cancer on this planet, you are a plague, and we... are the cure.

  3. Who to blame: humans or bats ?! by suv4x4 · · Score: 4, Funny

    I suggest a reasonable compromise: let's blame Batman.

  4. Great... by ugmoe · · Score: 4, Insightful
    Now I understand:

    If humans kill animals, it is the humans' fault. If animals kill humans, it is the humans' fault.

    Yep - that pretty much sums it up.

  5. Bats Information. by mad.frog · · Score: 3, Informative

    Bats are an incredibly misunderstood animal, with far more benefit to humans than generally thought. They're also incredibly interesting. Check out the Bat Conservation International website for a lot of interesting information.

    http://www.batcon.org/home/default.asp