Chhattisgarh Heatwave: Hundreds of Bats Perish Daily

In Chhattisgarh's Balod district, extreme temperatures of 44-45°C during 'nautapa' have led to the daily deaths of hundreds of bats. This disturbing trend has also been reported in Korba and Kanker districts recently, prompting concerns from wildlife experts. Bats, roosting in dense colonies, are particularly vulnerable as their body heat escalates under such intense heat.

Sanitation teams are struggling to manage the mass carcasses, which pose a public health risk and create an unbearable stench for residents. Wildlife expert Nitin Singhvi emphasizes that these deaths are not isolated heatwave events but a clear signal of climate stress affecting wildlife habitats. He noted the lack of local heat mapping in affected areas, which can lead to heat-dome-like conditions.

Singhvi has previously cautioned the forest department about increasing stress on wildlife due to climate change, rising temperatures, and resource scarcity, predicting heightened human-animal conflict. Experts are calling for immediate measures like heat mapping, protecting roosting sites, and providing artificial water and shade to prevent recurring mass mortality events.