Posted: Wed, 22 Sep 2010 07:55 PM - 12,193 Readers

By: Frank Lake

Bat Boy joins Bat Conservation International in the crusade against the deadly White-Nose Syndrome.

Bat Boy is taking on a serious cause to help counter the “most precipitous wildlife decline in the past century in North America”

Bat Conservation International (BCI) a leading organization working to protect and restore bats and their habitats, is joining forces with Weekly World News and its famed character Bat Boy on an effort to raise awareness and funds for the battle against White-Nose Syndrome, an affliction that has taken the lives of more than 1 million bats of six species since its discovery in 2006 and which threatens to spread across North America.

“Desperate times call for out-of-the-box measures, and a partnership with Bat Boy certainly fits that bill!,” states Susan Kwasniak, Director of Marketing for Bat Conservation International. “Bat Boy is a character with a huge following, especially among the young and eco-conscious. We’re delighted that Bat Boy is raising awareness and support to tackle this unprecedented threat to North American wildlife.”

“We’re truly delighted to be partnering up with BCI on this campaign,” states Neil McGinness, CEO of Bat Boy, LLC, parent company of the Weekly World News. “White-Nose Syndrome is a serious epidemic that deserves our attention. And when it comes to getting attention, no one holds a candle to Bay Boy.”

Bat Conservation International (BCI) , based in Austin, Texas, is devoted to conservation, education and research initiatives involving bats and the ecosystems they serve. It was founded in 1982, as scientists around the world became concerned that bats essential to the balance of nature and human economies were in alarming decline.

Under the founding guidance of Dr. Merlin Tuttle, an internationally recognized authority on bats, the organization has achieved unprecedented progress by emphasizing sustainable uses of natural resources that benefit both bats and people.

BCI employs a staff of more than 30 biologists, educators, and administrators, supported by 10,000 members in 60 countries. Its pioneering accomplishments have been featured on all major news networks in the United States, international wildlife documentaries and in numerous books, magazines, newspapers, and websites worldwide, educating millions of people to appreciate bats as invaluable allies.

*  Story Contributed by: Frank Lake