Hyderabad: Experts caution against hunting of bats

Hyderabad: In view of the Covid-19 pandemic which is yet to subside, Bat expert Dr. C Srinivasulu has cautioned against hunting of wild animals for human consumption as chances of viruses and pathogens jumping from animals to human beings will be high. This caution comes in the backdrop of reports of bats being hunted in Khammam district.

According to Osmania University Zoology associate professor Dr. Srinivasulu, some tribal and non-tribal people were traditionally known to hunt fruit bats or Indian flying fox for animal protein. Though the hunting was not rampant, it was being done in some parts of the country.

Given the Covid-19 pandemic and a few Nipah virus cases, Dr. Srinivasulu said “There is an unknown number of viruses and pathogens in wild animals which might cause new emerging diseases. If such wild animals are hunted and consumed, there will be a high risk of viruses and other pathogens jumping from wild animals to human beings and spread in the human population. People should be cautious and should also avoid hunting and consumption of wild animals.”

There was a need to create scientific awareness among people against the consumption of wild animals, he added.

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