South Florida Bacardi Office Joins Local Bat Preservation

Efforts

When Bacardi began 152 years ago, the Bacardi family drew inspiration
from their rich culture and surroundings to form what is now the worlds
largest privately owned spirits company. The firms first distillery in Santiago
de Cuba housed a colony of bats, an animal that is thought to symbolize
family and good fortune, in its rafters. In honor of this design, the company
developed its iconic bat emblem for BACARD rum in 1862.
Recently, this source of historical inspiration resurfaced near the firms
Coral Gables, Florida, regional office. When Kirsten Bohn, a bat biologist
from Florida International University, heard the animals social calls from
her balcony, she set out to identify the specific species with a high-speed
recording device. She recognized the bats as an extremely rare breed
native to South Florida. This species, which is classified as Eumops
floridanus, is one of the rarest mammals in the world, with a total population
of approximately 500.
As Bohn organized community initiatives to preserve the threatened
species, she gained the support of local Bacardi employees. The company
helped to facilitate her next event, sponsoring a full-service bar offering
BACARD rum and apparel. Drawing around 200 people, the event provided
an opportunity for Bohn to dispel common myths about bats and convey
their importance to the regions ecological system.