From vampires to fortune symbols: The dual legacy of bats across cultures
Bats, often misunderstood creatures, have long been linked to darkness and fear. From medieval art to Bram Stoker's Dracula, they've been cast as sinister figures—even though only a tiny fraction of bat species feed on blood. Yet in some cultures, like China, bats symbolise good fortune, showing how varied human perceptions can be.
The negative image of bats stretches back centuries. Ancient Romans nailed them to stables, believing they warded off evil spirits. Medieval artists frequently depicted them alongside witches and demons, deepening their association with the supernatural. Bram Stoker's 1897 novel Dracula cemented the idea of bats as bloodthirsty vampires, despite just three of the world's 1,400 bat species actually consuming blood.
Not all traditions view bats with suspicion. In Mandarin, the word fu means both 'bat' and 'fortune', making them symbols of luck. The Moche civilisation in ancient Peru even saw bats as emblems of fertility and renewal, thanks to their role in pollination.
Today, efforts to protect bats are growing. Switzerland alone has around 70 bat conservation groups, with about 25 offering educational programmes for children. Organisations like Swiss Bat Protection and regional groups in Zurich and Basel have been active since the 1990s, caring for injured bats and teaching the public about their ecological importance. The Bat Protection Foundation is now running A Year of the Bat, hosting events to improve their reputation. Volunteers are trained to rehabilitate injured bats, while children's literature increasingly uses them to explore themes of difference and acceptance.
Bats remain a species caught between myth and reality. While some cultures celebrate them as bringers of luck, others still associate them with fear. Conservation groups continue working to shift perceptions, highlighting their vital role in nature and the need for protection.
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