Jajpur villagers blind in their love for bats

KENDRAPADA: Kabatabandha, a small, sleepy village in Jajpur district, has become a resort for bats no, not those made of willow; we're talking about the nocturnal, winged creatures we see in the movies that take shelter in dank, dark places like caves, abandoned houses or big trees and go out for feeding at night. About 4,000 bats have made trees by the riverside and near a temple of Lord Shiva at the village their home for more than a hundred years.
The bats here are as big as crows and would scare off those not used to them.But as they cause no harm to anyone, the villagers let them live on the branches of trees by the riverside. Thousands of bats can be seen clinging to the branches of two Ashoka and two banyan trees on the banks of the river Baitarani, which runs by the village.
The people feed them grains and even protect them from all harm and undue disturbances. "The bats have made these trees their habitat for more than 100 years and we are used to them," said Basanta Sahoo (78), a resident of the village.
Debaki Sahoo, the sarpanch of Kabatabandha, said the nocturnal, mouse-like animals go out hunting for food at nights and return to the trees by daybreak. Though the bats sometimes cause damage to mango and guava orchards in the village, the people have a benign attitude towards them and take it in their stride.
Undoubtedly, superstitions regarding the bats fly thick and fast among the locals irrespective of religion, caste and creed in this village. They believe the bats are a sign of prosperity and bring good tidings, nullifying all ominous portents. "The bats have become a tourist attraction and people who hear of them visit the village just to have a look at the winged creatures. The visual appeal of the riverside is heightened by the sight of thousands of bats hanging from the branches of the huge trees," said Sadananda Moharana, the president of the village bat protection committee.
Thanks to the conservation efforts of the locals, the Kabatabandha bats are well fed and protected, going about their lives happily, flying in and out of trees every morning and night. Their human keepers, meanwhile, are glad the animals are staying put, ensuring the good fortune of the village sustains.
Many generations of villagers here have been conserving these bats and say they never cause any inconvenience to the locals. The villagers are fanatical in their love for the bats and ensure nobody dares harm them. "Our great grandfathers and grandfathers believed that our village is safe from all harm and will remain so as long as these bats live here amidst us. We have strong conviction in their belief and ensure that no one disturbs or harms them," said Sangram Sahoo, another resident of Kabatabandha.
Sarata Chandra Sahoo, the forest range officer of Bair forest near the village, said, "The people of Kabatabandha have formed a protection committee to protect the bats. The forest officials have been providing help to the locals in their conservation efforts."