Giant-faced bats died mysteriously in mass at Erawan park, Thailand

[webfact]

Giant-faced bats died mysteriously in mass at Erawan park



KANCHANABURI: -- Thousands of "giant-faced" bats were found lying dead in front of their marine cave at Erawan national park in Sisawat district of Kanchanaburi province, sparking fear that they might die from epidemic.

Upon learning of the massive death of these bats, the Erawan park chief Porayut Waiwong went to inspect the scene yesterday and ordered to collect their carcasses for laboratory examination to find the actual cause of the death.

He also ordered temporary use of fresh water flowing pass the “Tham Nan” cave to be suspended until it was tested safe for consumption.

Locals living near the park were also advised not to use water in the vicinity temporarily until test has been conducted and proved to be safe.

He and his men later buried all the carcasses with limes being used as layers to prevent the spread of the disease.

More than 1,000 carcasses were found in front of Tham Nam which is located at the rear of the Erawan park protection office 1 (Tham Phra That).

Authorities said these giant faced bats died about a week ago as some of them had been dried and some decomposed.

They initially suspected they might be died from suffocation after rising water blocked the cave entrance.

There were traces of water levels on walls inside the cave indicating the level was unusually high, said one veterinarian from Mahidol University inspecting the cave with the park’s team yesterday.

Bats living at another cave 800 metres away called Tham Phra That were not affected, he said, thus dismissing fear of an epidemic.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/giant-faced-bats-died-mysteriously-in-mass-at-erawan-park


-- Thai PBS 2015-10-29

[thesetat2013]

They must have all went batty and up and killes themselves

[aarn]

This has potential serious implications for human health, as bats are the natural hosts of a number of rabies-like diseases. When the bats are environmentally-stressed, they can poop out vast numbers of viral particles, which have caused human fatalities in Malaysia (among pigs and pig-farm staff) and Australia (two distinct diseases, also fatal for horses) in the past 20 years.

I hope the people cleaning up the carcasses were provided with some sort of protective apparel, and the appropriate veterinary authorities were conacted... AA

[shirtless]

They should test for viruses and radiation , die offs are now a common event and no government agency is telling the truth.

[Seastallion]

Sensational photo!

[Somtamnication]

Farangs making bat soup again?

[Strangebrew]

DAMN SUBWAY I Ordered BAT sandwhich bacon avacado and tomatoe not bat avacado and tomatoe.

[stickylies]

the meteor... the meteor...

[empireboy]

Haze from Indonesia?

[Ulic]

Sensational photo!

What is it?

[soalbundy]

They must have all went batty and up and killes themselves

The rest went down to the social demanding compensation but were threatened with attitude adjustment, it is currently being investigated whether or not they have complied with the 24 hour reporting regulation

[captainhornblower]

Were they all Catholic? And why were they holding a mass in Erawan Park?

I think we should be told...

[BuaBS]

Didn't ebola come from bats ?

[biplanebluey]

Can someone please explain what the hell that photo is------------

[Taco]

If they have white on their noses sad to say it's a nasty fungus that is wiping out entire populations mostly in North America.

http://www.nwhc.usgs.gov/disease_information/white-nose_syndrome/

[SOTIRIOS]

....is that a photo of a face....really hard to tell.....

[GAZZPA]

Farangs making bat soup again?

It's the "chicken of the cave".

[Jeremy50]

Can someone please explain what the hell that photo is------------

A fossilized crocodile, you can see the eye and the mouth quite clearly.

[chickenslegs]

Can someone please explain what the hell that photo is------------

It's a photo of no bats on the roof of a cave.

[BigBadGeordie]

RTP investigation 99% complete, suicide!

[uksomchai]

A mass loss of face killed them

OK I'll get my coat

[jacko45k]

Limes! They are 5 baht each this time of year, 1 baht per bat!

Can't make out that picture at all.

Edited October 29, 2015 by jacko45k

[connda]

This has potential serious implications for human health, as bats are the natural hosts of a number of rabies-like diseases. When the bats are environmentally-stressed, they can poop out vast numbers of viral particles, which have caused human fatalities in Malaysia (among pigs and pig-farm staff) and Australia (two distinct diseases, also fatal for horses) in the past 20 years.

I hope the people cleaning up the carcasses were provided with some sort of protective apparel, and the appropriate veterinary authorities were conacted... AA

Good info. Thanks for sharing!

[dageurreotype]

Didn't ebola come from bats ?

No. Freaking Africans eating what is euphemistically called 'bushmeat'. Aka, their indigenous animal population. Som nom bloody na. And no, I don't give a shit about the African people who partake in this to 'put food on their non-table/dirt floor'. They should stop bloody breeding.

Edited October 30, 2015 by dageurreotype

[connda]

Farangs making bat soup again?

Sprinkled with plenty of 'lime'. Yum yum.

"It's not that type of lime. It's Calcium Oxide CaO. Not the green thingys on trees."

Oh.