Concerned that too many bats of varying species are being killed off in the name of science, a group of scientists are calling for other methods to safely study the creatures.

While it is critical, in some scenarios, to collect specimens for their research, an article published in Mammal Review calls for using modern technology such as x-rays, photography and DNA analysis in lieu of killing the slow-producing creatures. According to the paper, bats live for long periods but their populations are dwindling, due in part to their role in research studies.

Researchers determined that over the last 20 years, a number of studies have included 7,482 bats collected from South America and Asia.

"We are aware that museum collections are vital to science, but there are strong ethical reasons to avoid unnecessary collection. We urge that appropriate ethical protocols are developed to strongly limit voucher collection to cases when this is strictly necessary," said Dr. Danilo Russo, lead author of the Mammal Review article.

To read the article, go to the journal Mammal Review.