The ornamental trade in bats

In the US, bats sourced from abroad are often sold as home decor. How this trade affects wild populations of bats is poorly understood (Coleman et al. 2024). We also don't know whether these bats carry any pathogens that pose risks to consumers (Tarango et al. 2025). I'm working with the IUCN Bat Specialists' Wildlife Trade Group to understand how this trade affects both people and bats.