If you’ve ever seen an image of a cute bat in a newspaper, magazine or a book, it’s likely that this photo was taken by chief bat biologist Merlin Tuttle.

The founder of the Bat Conservation International, Tuttle has spent nearly his entire life working for the conservation of bats, who are often hunted and feared despite playing a vital part in nature.

Here are some of our favorite images from Tuttle’s vast collection. What are your favorites?

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