Some species of bats are edible. In places like Ghana, West Africa grilled bats are actually considered a gourmet dish. It is very common to find bats in food markets and restaurants in parts of China, Thailand, Guam, and Australia, etc. Among the most popular bats on the menu are different varieties of fruit bats and the very large flying fox bat.
Cooking Bats
In some countries bats are referred to as paniki and are often cooked in coconut milk. Pemba islanders usually cook bats by roasting them, while other cultures have been known to toss bat meat in soups and/or stir-fries.
Emerging Diseases In Fruit Bats
Recent medical developments have linked flying fox bats to a form of dementia called ALS/PDC. Among the native Chamorro people, the incidence rate was 50 to 100 times higher than sample populations. In addition to this, fruit bats have also been linked to trace strains of SARS, Ebola and other diseases. With all of these diseases on the rise, it might be wise to pass on trying that exotic bat dish you are offered while on vacation.
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