First Wednesdays: Lecture, Cocktail Hour, and Music

The Secret Lives of Bats

Presented by: Dr. Merlin Tuttle, Merlin Tuttle’s Bat Conservation

Join us for an inspiring presentation from a globally recognized expert on bats!

No group of mammals has been more misunderstood, needlessly feared, or intensely persecuted than bats. Relying on a powerful combination of science, field knowledge, and photography, Merlin Tuttle’s Bat Conservation (MTBC) is helping save millions of bats, protecting public health, economies and worldwide ecosystems by teaching people to live harmoniously with bats through Merlin’s one-of-a-kind experience. MTBC provides the world’s finest bat photo gallery and the most up-to-date responses to exaggerated disease speculation about bats.

Learn about the impacts and value of these flying mammals. Discover fun bat facts, how they live in the wild and have adapted around the world, and why their services are vital for a healthy planet.

Following the talk, guests will have the opportunity to enjoy cocktails, conversations, music and bat crafts in our Art Gallery (just in time for Halloween!). Cash bar.

TICKETS

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DATE

Wednesday
October 16, 2024
7:00–9:00 pm PT

COST

$5.00 per ticket for advance online reservations or $10.00 per ticket on the day of the event at the door (pending availability. Please check first).

Parking is $6.00 for the for 2.5 hours in the structure located directly across from the Aquarium. Cash bar.

Speakers

bat eats and holds onto a fruit in a tree

Credit: @MerlinTuttle.org

Dr. Merlin Tuttle is an internationally recognized leader in research, conservation, and photography of bats, and is widely known as the father of modern bat conservation.

His photography has been featured in five articles in National Geographic and in countless other publications, providing a firm foundation for conservation efforts worldwide. Since 2014, he has lectured at leading institutions of science from Brunei, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Taiwan, Thailand, Brazil, Chile, and Costa Rica to South Africa. His global experience spans more than 60 years. He founded and led Bat Conservation International for nearly 30 years, retiring in 2009. He founded Merlin Tuttle’s Bat Conservation in 2014 due to unprecedented new threats to bats that required his unique expertise.

His most recent books, The Secret Lives of Bats: My Adventures with the World’s Most Misunderstood Mammals, The Bat House Guide, and the Smithsonian’s book titled, Bats: An illustrated guide to all species, have all received top reviews. He also serves as a Research Fellow in the Department of Integrative Biology at the University of Texas at Austin and takes more than a thousand new photos annually. To learn more about bats or support his work visit MerlinTuttle.org.

The Aquarium of the Pacific’s First Wednesdays series focuses on animals,nature and conservation efforts. The events bring scientists, authors, and other experts into its Honda Pacific Visions Theater for an illustrated talk paired with book signing or meet and greets and cocktail/social hours with music and crafts. The programs are best suited for high school and college students, young professionals, and adults of all ages. Lectures are also live streamed.