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I hope this doesn't come across as inhumane, but hypothetically what would be the bio-diversity/eco-system impact of simply exterminating or at least curbing th

I hope this doesn't come across as inhumane, but hypothetically what would be the bio-diversity/eco-system impact of simply exterminating or at least curbing these huge bat colonies. I mean technically we already have a precedent with trying to stop mosquito reproduction to curb malaria and other mosquito transmitted diseases. I understand that from a virology standpoint there is a lot to learn from bats and that they have an insanely robust immune system but is it really reasonable to allow these colonies to thrive unchecked with thousands of bats tightly packed together? It's just that it seems the most recent threats Ebola, MERS, SARS-Cov1, now SARS-Cov2, all seem to have had a bat colony as it's genetic origin.

AnthonBerg 6y ago
Good question! – I am unknowing but I think we would have a great many insects to deal with. Mosquitoes among them! This comment helped me to think to find out – thank you – and indeed: https://www.batswithoutborders.org/role-of-bats-in-our-ecosystems.html https://www.batswithoutborders.org/role-of-bats-in-our-ecosy... I see it such that we must learn from bats. And nature. And learn to collaborate better among ourselves.
- legerdemain 6y ago
  Another interesting question is, what if we could wipe out all viruses? What would go wrong? I suspect that we know relatively little about the systemic role of viruses in the biosphere. It's imaginable that they play a pervasive role in the gradual transformation of the world's genetic code.
  - graeme 6y ago
    If the hygiene hypothesis is correct, we’d have a lot more allergies.
jmnicolas 6y ago
> I hope this doesn't come across as inhumane, but hypothetically what would be the bio-diversity/eco-system impact of simply exterminating or at least curbing these huge bat colonies. If you rationalize it like this, then why is it bad to slightly reduce human population?
- DoingIsLearning 6y ago
  I suppose what is good and what is bad is very much relative to your viewpoint. From a human vantage point we have a vested interest and a genetic imperative of reproduction and self-preservation. I would guess-estimate that, if given the choice and the cognition, bats would likely also choose to self-preservate to the detriment of Humans.
  - jmnicolas 6y ago
    > genetic imperative of reproduction and self-preservation. As we can see with 7+ billions people on earth (or lemmings) too much reproduction threatens self-preservation, hence my previous comment. If we take out any emotion and go by pure logic, a virus culling the herd doesn't seem to be a bad thing. Now I'm like anyone else, I'd rather not be culled but I understand that if we don't find solutions, nature will.
- keymone 6y ago
  Depends on the method. We’re already hard at work stopping population growth by getting people out of poverty. Very probable that it’ll turn into population decline in a few decades.
  - pengaru 6y ago
    Does that take into account the COVID-19 baby boom?
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fy20 6y ago
In Western countries, certain species of animals are regularly culled because of infections they spread to livestock. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/sep/07/badger-cull-extended-england-60000-animals-in-line-of-fire https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/sep/07/badger-c...

AnthonBerg 6y ago

Good question! – I am unknowing but I think we would have a great many insects to deal with. Mosquitoes among them! This comment helped me to think to find out – thank you – and indeed: https://www.batswithoutborders.org/role-of-bats-in-our-ecosystems.html https://www.batswithoutborders.org/role-of-bats-in-our-ecosy... I see it such that we must learn from bats. And nature. And learn to collaborate better among ourselves.

legerdemain 6y ago
Another interesting question is, what if we could wipe out all viruses? What would go wrong? I suspect that we know relatively little about the systemic role of viruses in the biosphere. It's imaginable that they play a pervasive role in the gradual transformation of the world's genetic code.
- graeme 6y ago
  If the hygiene hypothesis is correct, we’d have a lot more allergies.

jmnicolas 6y ago

> I hope this doesn't come across as inhumane, but hypothetically what would be the bio-diversity/eco-system impact of simply exterminating or at least curbing these huge bat colonies. If you rationalize it like this, then why is it bad to slightly reduce human population?

DoingIsLearning 6y ago
I suppose what is good and what is bad is very much relative to your viewpoint. From a human vantage point we have a vested interest and a genetic imperative of reproduction and self-preservation. I would guess-estimate that, if given the choice and the cognition, bats would likely also choose to self-preservate to the detriment of Humans.
- jmnicolas 6y ago
  > genetic imperative of reproduction and self-preservation. As we can see with 7+ billions people on earth (or lemmings) too much reproduction threatens self-preservation, hence my previous comment. If we take out any emotion and go by pure logic, a virus culling the herd doesn't seem to be a bad thing. Now I'm like anyone else, I'd rather not be culled but I understand that if we don't find solutions, nature will.
keymone 6y ago
Depends on the method. We’re already hard at work stopping population growth by getting people out of poverty. Very probable that it’ll turn into population decline in a few decades.
- pengaru 6y ago
  Does that take into account the COVID-19 baby boom?

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fy20 6y ago

In Western countries, certain species of animals are regularly culled because of infections they spread to livestock. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/sep/07/badger-cull-extended-england-60000-animals-in-line-of-fire https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/sep/07/badger-c...