The lesser long-nosed bat is one of only a few bat species that feeds almost exclusively on nectar. In Mexico, these bats drink nectar from agave plants, which inadvertently helps tequila producers pollinate their agave crop.
- Animals
- Last of the Wild
Photos: 12 animals that bounced back from the brink
In celebration of World Animal Day, here are a dozen embattled species that, against all odds, are now on the road to recovery.
The rate at which humans are driving other species to extinction has reached new heights. Scientists estimate that dozens of plant and animal species go extinct every day, most of which go unnoticed. At this rate, more than half of all species on Earth could be lost by 2100.
But this grim future is not set in stone; we have the power to save these species.
Over the last half century, dedicated scientists and conservationists have changed the fate of several species on the verge of extinction. From the iconic giant panda, pushed to the brink by poaching and deforestation, to the island fox brought down in part by opportunistic eagles, humans have helped numerous species recover from dire straits.
