New Study Highlights the Threats of the Online Bat Trade

Researchers from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Bat Trade Working Group recently conducted a study uncovering the widespread sale of real bats online, revealing a thriving market that could harm vulnerable bat populations.

From October to December 2022, the research team identified 856 unique listings for preserved bats across multiple sites, including Etsy, eBay, and Amazon. Most of these listings came from the U.S., with vendors from nearly 30 states. Disturbingly, a quarter of the offerings were for the painted woolly bat (Kerivoula picta), a colorful and rare species from Asia that’s classified as “near threatened.”

The demand for these ornamental bats, often sold in glass boxes or as accessories, raises serious concerns. “I find the [ornamental bat] trade extremely frivolous,” says Joanna Coleman, assistant professor at Queens College, City University of New York, and co-chair of the IUCN Bat Trade Working Group. Due to their low reproductive rate and limited lifespan, painted woolly bats are especially vulnerable, and hunting threatens their role in the ecosystem, including pest control. Moreover, many listings falsely suggest the bats were “captive bred” or “naturally deceased,” which Coleman disputes, noting that these animals are nearly impossible to breed in captivity and would decompose quickly in the wild.

Researchers worry that many buyers don’t realize the impact of their purchases. “There’s a disconnect,” says coauthor Nistara Randhawa, who observed comments like, “This is a nice gift for my niece or grandson who loves bats.” Such statements highlight a lack of awareness about the negative effects of this trade.

Advocates for bat Conservation are pushing for change. This past July, Etsy banned all bat-related products in response to the study, and eBay followed suit by removing most listings. Despite these efforts, the researchers point out that other platforms, including Amazon and Alibaba, still host similar listings, allowing the trade to persist.

To address these ongoing challenges, the Center for Biological Diversity and the Monitor Conservation Research Society filed a legal petition in May 2024 with the US Fish and Wildlife Service to classify the painted woolly bat as threatened or endangered. The listing would shut down any legal trade of this species in the United States if successful. Researchers are also advocating for the painted woolly bat’s inclusion in Appendix I of CITES, which would restrict its global trade. The decision will be presented in December 2025.

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