field notes

State of India’s Bats

New report shares the wonders of India’s 135+ species and highlights conservation priorities
I

ndia’s 1.27 million square miles are home to 1.43 billion people–and are also home to 135 described species of bats, including 16 endemic species found nowhere else on Earth. Though the country has fewer than 50 bat researchers, this community, led by BCI and the Nature Conservation Foundation, teamed up to produce the first-ever State of India’s Bats (SoIBats) report, which will be released this year.

The report brings together researchers from 23 institutions to review the knowledge on India’s bats, assess threats, identify opportunities for research, and create a roadmap for bat conservation over the next decade. This is the first time this type of prioritization exercise has been conducted in India, following the North America State of the Bats Report that was released in 2023. Here are a few of India’s incredible bats.

A light brown bat with large translucent wings flies through a dark rocky cave. The thin wing membranes and skeletal structure are visible against the dark stone background.
Durga Das’s leaf-nosed bat (Hipposideros durgadasi).
Photo: Rajesh Puttaswamaiah
Close-up profile of a fruit bat with large dark eyes, a long snout, and golden-brown fur. The bat's alert expression and fine facial hairs are visible against a black background.
Fulvous fruit bat (Rousettus leschenaultii).
Photo: Rohit Chakravarty
Frontal view of a pale, fluffy bat held in a gloved hand. It has large, ribbed ears and a complex, fleshy nose leaf structure characteristic of horseshoe or leaf-nosed bats.
Kolar leaf-nosed bat (Hipposideros hypophyllus).
Photo: Rajesh Puttaswamaiah
A brown bat hangs upside down from a rocky cave ceiling. Its dark wings are folded tightly against its furry body, and its small head is tucked downward in a resting position.
Indian Rufous horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus indorouxii).
Photo: Rajesh Puttaswamaiah
Macro profile of a small brown bat with its mouth open, showing tiny sharp teeth. It has dark, rounded ears and dense fur, held gently by a person wearing dark clothing.
Sombre bat (Cnephaeus tatei).
Photo: Rohit Chakravarty
Close-up of a leaf-nosed bat with reddish-brown fur and a distinct, intricate nose leaf. The bat is held wings-spread, revealing the delicate texture of its dark wing membrane.
Andaman horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus cognatus).
Photo: Rohit Chakravarty
Close-up of a small bat with dark brown, fuzzy fur resting on a black textured surface. It has small dark eyes, a blunt snout, and its ears are pressed back against its head.
Babu’s pipistrelle (Pipistrellus babu).
Photo: Rohit Chakravarty
A long-eared bat faces forward while resting on a black leather glove. Its exceptionally large, translucent ears are held upright, and its small face has a pinkish nose.
Kashmir long-eared bat (Plecotus wardi).
Photo: Rohit Chakravarty
Profile of a dark-furred fruit bat with a prominent amber eye and a small patch of orange fur near its neck. Its snout is slightly upturned against a solid black background.
Blanford’s fruit bat (Sphaerias blanfordi).
Photo: Rohit Chakravarty
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