Bats hang from the banyan tree at Kundilo village in Kendrapara. Telegraph picture

Kendrapara, July 16: A sleepy riverside village at Garadapur block in the district has turned into a safe habitat for endangered bats, the credit goes to local people’s animal-friendly endeavour.

The local residents of Kundilo village have come forward to ensure the mammals’ safety. Not long ago, poaching of bats was rampant in these areas. However, the delicate species are firmly settled at the village with the villagers keeping tight vigil on poaching activity.

“Two banyan trees on the Paika riverbanks are abuzz with soothing cacophony. The sight of hundreds of bats clinging on to the branches of the trees adds to the natural beauty of the village. The harmless creatures have become a major attraction. The villagers have made it a point to feed them with grains. Due care is taken, so that the mammals are not disturbed in their habitat,” said Prakash Jena, who heads the Evergreen Forum, an environment protection outfit.

“There was a general belief that raw meat of bats cured respiratory and asthmatic ailments. That’s why, bats were being killed indiscriminately. We convinced the people that consuming bat meat was not the remedy to get the better of asthma. Discarding the myth, the villagers later pledged to save the endangered species,” he said.

“People have now nurtured the belief that bats are harbinger of peace and prosperity. Killing them would invite danger to the village. We have formed a bat conservation committee to protect the mammals. This has resulted in rise in the number of bats inhabiting at the village,” said villager Diptiranjan Kanungo.

The committee has decided to impose penalty on anybody found catching bats or causing harm to the species, he said. The species numbered less than 100 about four to five years ago at the village. Now, their population has shot up to more than 1,000 because of perceptive change in the people’s mindset.