Florida Bat Festival
Gainesville, Florida, USA
Late OctoberDescription
This unique event will provide a rare opportunity for the general public and wildlife lovers to visit a working research center and to see the bats face-to-face. This is the only day of the year when the center is open to the public. The conservancy, a non-profit organization, houses the largest collection of captive fruit bats in the world and works with global conservation partners to protect at-risk species of bats. Efforts are focused on plant-visiting “fruit and nectar” bats because they are vulnerable to extinction yet vital to the world’s rainforests and deserts and to the economies of developing countries. By protecting these bats Lubee works to conserve more than 145 genera of plants that depend on bats for pollination and seed dispersal the countless organisms that depend on those plants for food and shelter and ultimately all people that depend on healthy ecosystems. This year Lubee will also be partnering with the 2011-2012 Year of the Bat Initiative to help raise awareness about bats world-wide. This year’s event will provide a wide range of activities for the entire family, including fun crafts, a prize raffle, live music, and bat-themed merchandise for sale. Local food vendors will also be featured. Proceeds from the festival will be used to fund education and awareness programs for schools, libraries, scouting troops, and wildlife and conservation groups to promote awareness about the benefits bats provide. For further information and to sign up for our newsletter please visit our website: http://www.lubee.org
Venue
Lubee Bat Conservancy
Directions
1309 NW 192nd Ave Gainesville, Fl 32609
Times
10:00 am to 4:00 pm
Admission & Parking
Free
Website
http://www.batconservancy.org/
Infophone
352--485-1250
Email
batfest@lubee.org