Open Letter to the Minister for Agro-Industry and Food Security

Forum

Government should reconsider the bat protection convention

By Pal Rajaram

A great deal has been planned to revamp food security, and while these plans are promising and hopeful, I have yet to see any mention of the havoc caused by bats on our fruit. The fruits affected include mangoes, lychees, guavas, and papayas, which are crucial both for local consumption and export. Therefore, the economic impact must also be considered.

In my backyard, I have one mango tree, one lychee tree, three guava trees, two papaya trees, banana trees, one pomegranate tree, and one jean blanc tree. Last year, despite installing nets on the lychee and mango trees, the bats persistently invaded and caused significant damage to the fruits. The bats have now started to destroy the nets to gain access. Consequently, I have to check and repair the nets every day. The nets are no longer effective, and thousands of fruit tree owners will face this issue. This problem is widespread and distressing.

These bats, having destroyed more fruits than they consume, now stay on the trees all night and can even be seen during the day. One morning around 7:00, I observed them crawling on the nets in search of fruit. I recall a video broadcast by a local paper showing them flying in Vacoas during the day, whereas previously they were only seen at night. These pests, once visible only from September to March, are now present year-round. The government signed a convention for their protection in 2012 or earlier, but at that time, they were not a threat due to their limited numbers. Since 2016, their population has surged, and the destruction of fruits has become a recurring problem. Year after year, their numbers seem to increase. Just consider one street in Quatre Bornes, which may have around 400 houses, each with at least one fruit tree. The bats usually attack in groups, and their numbers in this small area could be staggering. This situation extends to the six towns, numerous villages, and riversides filled with fruit trees, leading to a substantial bat population nationwide.

Comparing bats to other fruit eaters:

• Bats consume all stages of fruit—half-ripe, ripe, and sometimes unripe.
• They are active at night.
• They consume about 10% of the fruit and destroy 90%, causing havoc on the ground with discarded fruit and droppings.
• Last year, I noticed bats chewing guavas, extracting only the juice, and discarding the rest, including grains and fibre.
• They cause disturbances and annoyances throughout the night with their loud noises, disturbing both owners and neighbors and leading to sleepless nights. This can result in stress, high blood pressure, and other discomforts.
• They are active even during heavy rain, thunder, and strong winds. They are not deterred by noise, light, or ultrasound devices.

Economic Impact:

• The destruction of fruits results in substantial losses—hundreds of millions of rupees.
• Costs for purchasing and maintaining nets, including government subsidies. Some trees may require two or three nets for proper coverage, costing around Rs 9,000 to 12,500.
• Costs for fixing nets, which may reach up to Rs 6,000 per tree.
• Costs for trimming trees and disposal, ranging from Rs 4,000 to 6,000.
• Loss of two or more years’ worth of fruit crops after trimming.
• Costs for collecting and disposing of destroyed fruits, which may involve significant additional efforts.
• Risk of theft when fruits are within reach of the ground.

Pollution and Health Risks:

• Pollution and unpleasant odor from rotten fruits and bat droppings.
• Exposure of rotten fruits to flies and other insects.
• Bats are known to spread the Nipah virus, a deadly virus.

Other Fruit Eaters (e.g., birds, lizards):

• Consume only ripe fruits.
• Active during the day only.
• When birds start eating a fruit, others will join until the fruit is finished.
• Do not drop fruit on the ground.

International wildlife promoters may condemn the culling of bats without understanding the ground realities. My next-door neighbor was so frustrated by the damage that he cut down his tree. This pressing issue also concerns the Minister of Health and Wellness and the Minister of Environment, Solid Waste Management, and Climate Change.

Suggestions:

• The government should reconsider the bat protection convention for clear reasons related to food security, environmental, and health concerns.
• A drastic reduction in the bat population should be pursued.
• Sterilization efforts should be enforced to reduce the bat population.
• Fruit trees should be planted in forests.

If authorities do not act promptly, as the fruit season is already underway, fruit owners may be discouraged and consider cutting down their trees to avoid this calamity. It is crucial to choose between protecting local fruits, which are mostly organic, or protecting the bats.

I kindly request that Farmers’ Associations include fruit tree owners under their purview by inviting them to register. This would be beneficial for citizens and the country’s economy. Bats were not a problem in the past, but now the situation has changed, and fruit tree owners should organize themselves to address this pressing issue with the assistance of the authorities.

This open letter is necessary due to either very late responses or no responses at all.

Mauritius Times Online Friday 30 August 2024