Locals of Jagarnathpur, Birgunj, are attempting to save around 500 bats that live near the Gandak canal by prohibiting their killing.

Locals, who say the bats are the pride of the community, used to kill the animal for meat as it was believed that it would cure diseases such as asthma. But following a decline in their numbers, they have stopped doing so.

“I have seen these bats for as long as I can remember, and so did my grandfather,” said Hari Narayan Patel, a 45-year-old local. “Bats have been the identity of the village. Many people in the district know Jagarnathpur as the village of bats,” he said.

Patel added that the bats in his village are significantly larger than those found elsewhere and don’t cause harm to their crops. But lately, their number has declined to around 500 in a decade.

“While there are beliefs that bat meat cures diseases such as asthma, we have imposed a prohibition in their killing,” said Birendra Sah, 39.