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Who We Are - Lubee Bat Conservancy - An Overview | Lubee History | Lubee's Expertise and Resources | Why Conserve Fruit & NectarBats? | How and Where Lubee Works | Contact Us
Lubee Bat Conservancy is an international non-profit organization working with others to save fruit and nectar bats and their habitats through conservation, research and education.
Healthy ecosystems depend on fruit and nectar bats that pollinate flowers and disperse seeds. These bats are among the least studied and most threatened animals in the world. Lubee is working to promote understanding and responsible management of the vital relationship between bats, people and plants, leading to a sustainable future for all.
Lubee Bat Conservancy’s vision is to see populations and habitats of fruit and nectar bats protected, restored and enhanced through coordinated conservation, research and education efforts at international, national, regional and local levels.
We Work with a world-wide team of conservation scientists, educators and zoological institutions
We Link field studies with our premier center for bat conservation research and training
We Build capacity of communities to conserve fruit and nectar bats and their essential ecosystem services through education and outreach.
The Lubee Foundation Inc., or Lubee, was founded in 1989 by the late Luis F. Bacardi as a private conservation breeding and research center for exotic endangered animals, mainly hoofstock, macaws and parrots. After two years, the center narrowed it’s focus to old world fruit bats and neotropical primates (marmosets and tamarins), and then in 1993 further narrowed its focus to old world fruit bats. The center is situated outside Gainesville, Florida and is closely affiliated with the University of Florida’s Veterinary Medical teaching hospital and Wildlife Conservation Department. In just 10 years, Lubee has a hallmark of strong conservation science and successful husbandry.
In the recent past, conservation in zoos and private breeding centers such as Lubee meant breeding animals for return to the wild. Lubee was built around this conservation ethic. Today, while captive breeding programs are meant to serve as a "genetic savings bank" of animals for restoration of wild populations, the accelerating rate at which remaining habitats are being destroyed or degraded means that in many situations, reintroductions are no longer viable without complementary conservation groundwork. Habitat restoration and protection measures, sustainable economic development and the fostering of a conservation ethic must pre-empt or accompany any reintroductions. This does not depreciate the value of living collections. They remain a chance for bringing populations back from the brink of extinction in countries taking steps to raise environmental consciousness as a fundamental component of economic development. They provide the key to increased knowledge and public awareness about species and their ecological needs, and create the interest required to raise funds from visitors and members for programs targeted at saving species in the wild. By sharing research knowledge and husbandry expertise about the animals we keep and care for and investing in global conservation initiatives, Lubee is uniquely poised to command a leadership position onstage with the larger conservation organizations working to conserve the earth’s biodiversity.
Throughout Lubee’s planning for the future, one thing remains clear. The vision of Lubee remains the same as the past. It is conservation. It is safeguarding biodiversity. It is aligning voices to speak out for threatened animals that give life to plants, landscapes and human societies.
Lubee has changed it’s name to Lubee Bat Conservancy, and remains a certified member of the American Zoo and Aquarium Association, providing high quality care for animals and unique conservation, research and education opportunities to all.
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