B
razil has more than 30,000 known caves, and many of these underground caverns are home to bats, including Endangered species and large colonies. To learn more about these subterranean bat homes and find out how to protect particularly important ones, BCI and partners took inventory of 113 caves, including 52 that were undergoing this process for the first time. The team recorded 33 bat species from seven bat families and confirmed six new hot caves. They also identified threats, including deforestation, unregulated tourism, and vampire bat control efforts impacting other species.
BCI and partners are working with the National Center for Cave Research and Conservation (CECAV/ICMBio) within the National Action Plan for Cave Conservation (PAN Cavernas) to implement actions focused on protecting bats, including testing the first bat gate installed in a Brazilian cave, and to update Brazil’s Red List of Endangered Species. The aim now is to support the creation of protected areas, and the development of protocols to minimize negative impacts on bat populations.
