Bats are increasingly represented in zoo collections as part of conservation breeding and education programmes. Their unique echolocation-based perception, social complexity, and nocturnal biology require specialised welfare-focused housing design.
Bat welfare in captivity requires careful attention to species-specific biological needs. Housing must accommodate roosting at height in appropriate substrates, thermoregulatory needs including hibernation for temperate species, and social groupings that allow normal colony behaviour. Nocturnal species require reversed lighting cycles to enable daytime visitor observation without disrupting natural activity patterns. Dietary provision for insectivorous species presents particular challenges, as live insect provision is essential for behavioural enrichment. Flight space is critical — bats denied adequate flight opportunities develop stereotypic behaviour and muscular atrophy. Biosecurity protocols are essential given bats' role as reservoirs for zoonotic pathogens, though this risk is manageable with appropriate protocols.