Ecology and Conservation Strategy of Bats in Rural Area

Wed, 01 Aug 2007 00:00:00 +0000

This was my first research project: a two-week field survey of bats in rural Assam, done in school for the National Children’s Science Congress in 2007.

The study was conducted in a 1100 square kilometer area between the Beki and Manas Rivers, extending from the railway line in the north to the Brahmaputra River in the south. Three bat species were identified: Indian Fruit Bat, Leaf-Nosed Bat, and Chungabaduli.

Indian Fruit Bats were observed feeding on 23 plant species and forming seven colonies across ten different plant species, with a total population of 3,811 recorded between July 29 and August 12, 2007. The Leaf-Nosed Bat, an insectivorous species, had two colonies in Assam-type tin houses, with a total population of 600. The Chungabaduli population was sparse and scattered, primarily residing in bamboo post holes and roof supports of threshing huts.

Fruit bats face significant threats from hunting, as they are used for food and traditional medicine to treat asthma, body pain, and night blindness. Hunters use Nowsa and Baduliphand traps, and open electrification also results in fatalities. Habitat destruction due to deforestation further endangers these species. The age of the bat colonies ranged from 10 to 35 years.

The average adult weight of the Indian Fruit Bat, Leaf-Nosed Bat, and Chungabaduli was 1.25 kg, 45.5 g, and 10 g, respectively, with wingspans of 131 cm, 47 cm, and 20 cm. Landowners in the colony areas showed strong support for bat conservation and actively resisted hunting. However, in regions with widespread hunting, such as Roha, fruit bats were absent. In local markets, a single fruit bat was sold for approximately INR 35.

Looking back, it was my first taste of research: planning a survey, collecting and organising data in the field, and writing up and presenting the results.

Report | Riasat Sheikh | Personal website

Ecology and Conservation Strategy of Bats in Rural Area