Le Figaro Nantes
Never underestimate a stark barn full of bats hidden deep on your property.
The Pays de la Loire Conservatory of Natural Spaces knows something about this.
One of its missions concerns the preservation of fauna and flora.
To achieve this, it sometimes acquires a site to avoid renovation likely to harm the species occupying it.
It is in this context that the association is in the process of acquiring two bat shelters, in Herbignac (44) and Brion (49).
And has just relaunched season 2 of an operation called
“Adopt a Bat”
, in order to raise 5,000 euros by the end of April.
“We wanted to create nice communication around
animals
seen as not very nice
,” laughs Fabrice Normand, director of the regional conservatory.
Especially since he assures us: these mammals have an important role to play.
As insectivores, they regulate insect populations and are a good witness to the ecosystem.
But above all,
“we consider that biodiversity (fauna and flora) is a heritage at least as important as cultural heritage.
A bat, an otter, a beaver, it's worth
the Mona Lisa
, it's worth
Notre-Dame-Paris
or other elements on which we agree that we must put in place means to protect them!
.
Read alsoMarseille: the city invests 260,000 euros to build a cave for bats
34 species in France
Currently, 34 species of bats fly in France, including 23 in the Pays de la Loire region.
They benefit from nationally protected species status, which means they cannot be killed.
However,
“press releases from scientists who work on bats say that a good part of these species are quite threatened, with a decline
,” continues the director.
And this, for various and varied reasons such as land use planning or urbanization, which disturb their tranquility to the point of sometimes causing their reproduction to fail.
Providing them with a quiet place, where they will not be disturbed, is therefore important according to him.
In Loire-Atlantique, to the north of the Guérande peninsula, the participation of donors will contribute to the purchase of a barn populated by 300 greater horseshoe bats occupying it mainly in the reproduction phase.
“The bats were already occupying it but we wanted to buy it to protect it over time
,” explains Fabrice Normand.
This land of approximately 60 to 80 square meters, which was part of the bottom of the garden of a private house, cost them 60,000 euros (not counting the work): an amount financed in particular thanks to subsidies.
In Maine-et-Loire, this is an underground cavity dedicated to the hibernation period of 650 bats.
Also financed at 80% thanks to aid such as the green fund, they still have 20% to find on their own to break even.
Hence this new call for donations.
Also read: These bats use their giant penis as a weapon
An adoption certificate issued to each donor
From December 2023 to mid-February 2024, 5,000 euros have already been collected.
The payments oscillated between €20 and €500 but
“we give what we want.
We take a donation of five euros as a million!”
, slips Solenn Roussel, the communications manager.
In recent days, the association has reactivated the pot to find 5,000 euros again.
In exchange, contributors will receive a nominative adoption certificate,
“a collector’s item!”
.
And they will of course be kept informed of developments.
In the region, the Conservatory of Natural Spaces has already carried out actions to safeguard other species.
For example, he bought land to save wild tulips, in the vineyards of Maine-et-Loire.
Acquired plots of land in Sarthe to preserve a small toad, the yellow-bellied ringer.
Or has signed agreements with owners to intervene in the salt marshes near Guérande with the aim of taking care of the avocet, a small wading bird.