Press Release:

Disney Conservation Fund Helps Bat Conservation International Support Wildlife and the Environment

[Austin, Texas, November 26, 2019] – Bat Conservation International (BCI) has been awarded a grant by the Disney Conservation Fund (DCF) to stop the rapid population decline of the endangered Mexican long-nosed bat in northern Mexico. As part of this work, BCI’s bi-national team of experts will lead a series of community-based conservation activities aimed at identifying, protecting, and restoring agave habitat – the key food source for this nectar feeding bat. By harnessing community support, this large-scale initiative will help save the Mexican long-nosed bat by establishing robust ‘nectar corridors’ that the bats can use during their annual migration from Central Mexico to the southwestern U.S.

The fund has been supporting local efforts around the world aimed at saving wildlife, inspiring action and protecting the planet with nearly $86 million distributed to nonprofit organizations since 1995.

Dr. Jon Flanders, Director, BCI’s Endangered Species Intervention Project explains the importance of this work: “This initiative builds on the success of previous work aimed at protecting important cave roosts for this endangered species of bat. Focusing our efforts on protecting and restoring agave habitat in northern Mexico marks a significant step in our conservation efforts to save this species from extinction, none of which would have been possible without the ongoing support of the Disney Conservation Fund.”

DCF grant recipients are selected based on their efforts to implement comprehensive community wildlife conservation programs, stabilize and increase populations of at-risk animals and engage communities in conservation in critical ecosystems around the world.

For information on Disney’s commitment to conserve nature and a complete list of grant recipients, visit www.disney.com/conservation.

About Bat Conservation International

The mission of Bat Conservation International is to conserve the world’s bats and their ecosystems to ensure a healthy planet. For more information visit batcon.org.

Media Contact: Javier Folgar
Bat Conservation International
Tel: 512.327.9721 ext. 410
Email: jfolgar@batcon.org

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We're thinking a lot about our community and hope you are staying safe.

As we confront the challenge of the coronavirus pandemic, we're making the health and safety of our staff and our supporters our top priority. In line with CDC guidance and Federal & state orders, we are taking several important steps to our operations:

• Public Events
  In response to CDC guidance regarding avoidance of large public gatherings, we are postponing the Bracken bat flight season. We will resume bat flight events when public health experts determine that large public gatherings are again safe.

Similarly, we have postponed or canceled all upcoming bat walk events at this time.

• Merchandise & Gift Fulfillments
  Our Austin, Texas headquarters is currently subject to a city-wide “Stay Home, Work Safe” order. With our Austin-based employees working from home, please allow several weeks for delivery of merchandise and adopt-a-bat purchases ordered after March 24. Please also allow extra time for the processing of gifts made through U.S. mail. We are grateful for your patience and ask you to consider making your contribution to BCI online via credit card on our website or through PayPal.
  
  
• Staff Operations & Field Work
  We’re taking the necessary steps to protect our staff while minimizing any disruptions to our mission. These precautions include:

• Adhering to all state “stay-at-home” orders. At this time, most state orders consider BCI’s work as non-essential.
• Adhering to Federal CDC guidance including:
  • Avoiding large gatherings such as events, trainings, and conferences
  • Avoiding/postponing non-essential domestic and international travel
  • Working remotely
• Adhering to National Wildlife Health Center and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service guidance to avoid contact with bats to prevent a potential spillback of the novel coronavirus from humans to wildlife

As a result of these precautions, we have postponed all fieldwork during the coronavirus pandemic to comply with public policies. Also, due to the global shortage of PPE supplies, we have suspended bat survey activities that require PPE.

We will continue to do all we can to respond to expert public health guidance, take the actions necessary to keep our staff and supporters safe and healthy, and update you on any changes.

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we confront this shared challenge.