Loose bats forest rangers, that is, those who live in forests and mountains essential for maintaining ecological balance of the environment. ANSE promotes the protection of these flying mammals and education so that they are known and respected.
Various conservation measures have been implemented against forest bat populations throughout the year, such as installation of 85 artificial shelters Unpleasant batscarrying out 11 samplings or holding a Batnight on July 27 during which echo recorders were used to record these small mammals in the nature.
Since October 2023, ANSE has been developing the project “Conservation of forest bats in Albacete”, with the aim expand the knowledge and conservation of these small mammalsin the forest masses in the south of the province of Albacete, mainly in the mountains of Alcaraz, Calares del Mundo and Sima and Sierra de las Cabras.
Know forest bats to protect them
In this area there is the presence of 4 species of forest bats of 10 registered throughout Spain. These are the little noctule (Nyctalus leisleri), the great noctule (Nyctalus lasiopterus), the Barbastela (Barbastella barbastellus) and the wood buzzard bat (Myotis bechsteinii).
Various conservation measures have been implemented throughout the year. forest bat populations such as the installation of 85 artificial shelters in the mountains south of Albacete; inventory and tracking forest bats with 11 samplings in the study area and the development of various outreach activities to bring this group of mammals closer to the public in the area, with the celebration of a Batnight in the Calares del Mundo y de la Sima Natural Park on July 27, where ultrasonic wave detectors will sample bats and the diorama entitled “Bats of the Calares del Mundo en Sima Natural Park” was presented.
On the other hand, it has also been implemented 4 volunteer sessions for the assembly and installation of artificial sheltersin addition to the preparation of a digital monograph on forest bats in the province of Albacete and the creation of a project page hosted on the ANSE website.
The project will end in September 2024 and has been completed to improve knowledge about these species and raise awareness among the local public of their importance as bioindicators of mature forests in good condition. In addition, the valuable role that bats play in ecosystems has been highlighted, such as in controlling pests in forest stands.
The project “Conservation of forest bats in Albacete” is part of the Call for Environment and Sustainable Development 2023and has had the support of the Montemadrid Foundation, Caixabank and the consultancy Ideas Medioambientales, SL
These types of campaigns, involving volunteers and helping citizens learn about the way of life and the importance of each of the species of wild animals, such as forest bats, can be decisive in the time of protect nature and its biodiversity.