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| Source: animalinyou |
The Greater Horseshoe Bat and the Thai Horseshoe Bat are at risk of extinction, as they can currently only be found in the Mahatup Temple area, Ward 3, Soc Trang Town, with approximately 2,000 individuals, of which only over 20 are Greater Horseshoe Bats.
This finding comes from a survey conducted in Soc Trang by Columbia University (USA) in collaboration with the Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources in Vietnam. According to the survey team, two years ago, these two species, among the largest bats in the world, were quite numerous in two temples and the protective forest area in An Thanh Nam Commune, Cu Lao Dung District (Soc Trang).
Mr. Tran Trong Khiem – Deputy Head of the Soc Trang Forest Protection Department – mentioned that recently, there has been an increase in individuals specializing in bat catching in Soc Trang, along with several locations selling bat porridge for prices ranging from 200,000 to 300,000 VND per bat (approximately 1 kg). This is a significant factor contributing to the endangered status of the valuable bat population in Soc Trang.
NGOC DIEN – TAN THAI
