KARUNA SHINSHO, CNN ANCHOR: A museum in the Cambodian capital is wrestling with a special problem. A structural fault in the building is attracting residents that are proving to be both profitable and problematic.</s>SHINSHO (voice-over): Cambodia's national museum is home not only to priceless artifacts, but to an estimated two million bats. The bats, which live in the wooden roof of the museum, are the source of heated debate. Supporters say the nocturnal creatures are good for the environment, because they eat mosquitoes and other unwanted insects. They also bring museum extra income, but bats produce tons of nitrogen-rich droppings, which the museum sells as fertilizer for 250 U.S. dollars a month. But opponents say bat droppings are harmful to the museum artifacts as well as people who work there. Where he it rains, the droppings turn acidic corrosive.</s>HAB TOUCH, NATIONAL MUSEUM OF CAMBODIA: The bat droppings fall to the ground here all the time. Yes, so the staff has to clean every time, and as you know, that working and this condition is not healthy for people, you know. That is why we -- now, we think that it is one run of the important the most problem of the national museum that we have to solve.</s>SHINSHO: That is exactly what's the museum is doing with the help of some international conservation groups. They are trying to create an environment in which the bats can coexist with the museum's artwork and staff. They are hoping to build a concrete ceiling and repair the leaking roof. But for now, the bats will have free reign over the museum to the delight of some and dismay of others.</s>SHINSHO: Once they have decided on design of the new ceiling, museum officials say, they will approach potential donors for funding. END TO ORDER VIDEOTAPES AND TRANSCRIPTS OF CNN INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMMING, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE THE SECURE ONLINE ORDER FROM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Museum in Cambodian Capital Dealing with Problem of Millions of Bat Residents in Roof