The Czech news site iDNES reports that the Czechs are recognized as pioneers in the study of bats (Chiroptera). Chiroptera is the second-largest mammalian order, with over a thousand species. And so it is appropriate that over 500 of the world’s top bat authorities (by that I mean humanoids who study bats) should meet in Prague this year.
The very first such international symposium was to take place in Prague in late August 1968, but (no kidding!) the untimely arrival of masses of Soviet tanks five days earlier caused most participants to disinvite themselves.
Just goes to show that the Soviets never had any sense of humor…
