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Three out of four emerging infectious diseases come to us from the animal world - and one surfaces every 4 months. The exact origins of Covid-19 are unknown but it’s just one of the many illnesses like Ebola, Sars and HIV/AIDs that have spilled over to us from wildlife. A number of animals have been investigated for possible links to the current pandemic, including bats and pangolins. But some species of these mammals are amongst the million or so plants and animals threatened with extinction. In this episode, we look at the small but mighty efforts to save them before it’s too late. In southern India, we visit the locals safeguarding the home of one critically endangered bat. In Vietnam we meet conservationists who are rehabilitating pangolins rescued from trafficking networks. And we speak to veterinarian and disease ecologist, Jonathan Epstein about the role we play in causing pandemics.
India’s Bat Haven - Globally, bat populations face threats like habitat loss and hunting which has left several species critically endangered, including the Kolar leaf-nosed bat. Reporter Malaika Vaz visits the bat’s only remaining home, a cave in Karnataka in southern India and meets scientist Bhargavi Srinivasulu who rediscovered the mammal there in 2013. Locals and conservationists then took on the mining industry, resulting in the area being declared a conservation reserve. Protecting the bat’s habitat has also allowed various species of birds, deer and even leopards to return. Malaika crawls into the 15 metres deep cave with a bat scientist and gets close to the 200-odd Kolar leaf-nosed bats that live there. She records their high-frequency vocalisations using an ultrasound recording device and meets the rangers who patrol the area to ensure the bats remain safe.
Pangolin protectors - Pangolins have walked the earth for millions of years but are now among the world’s most trafficked mammals. Overhunting of the animal for its scales and meat have left all eight of its species at the risk of extinction. Phoebe Tran brings us a story of pangolin conservation from Vietnam, a major crossroad of the illegal trade, where Chinese and Sunda pangolins are fighting for their survival. In an undercover operation, she finds that pangolin products can still be bought on the busy streets of Hanoi. But the animal is also being protected. Pheobe visits an organisation called Save Vietnam’s Wildlife (SVW), which has rescued, rehabilitated and released hundreds of pangolins over the last few years. Phoebe is shown around by SVW’s founder, Nguyen Van Thai. She meets a baby born at the centre, witnesses efforts to protect the forests which are the pangolins natural habitat and follows the release of seven of the animals back into the wild.
Jonathan Epstein - We also speak to veterinarian and disease ecologist Jonathan Epstein of the EcoHealth Alliance, who tells us how diseases spill over from the natural world into humans because of our own activities - and that we have the power to prevent future pandemics from occurring.