(Photo courtesy of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation)Researchers have begun collecting samples from horseshoe bats in Chanthaburi to test them for coronavirus amid concerns they may pose a threat to local residents. They plan to collect 300 bats over three days from a cave in the eastern province, according to a government statement. Thailand has 23 species of the horseshoe bat, but there has not been an investigation before. The source of the virus has been a matter of heated debate since it emerged in China late last year. Local people have been known to eat bats, Ms Supaporn said, adding that adequate education and information programmes were needed.

Source: Bangkok Post June 13, 2020 12:11 UTC