Rare bat flits back from the brink

A BAT the size of a plum with a rare stronghold in Wales has seen a population explosion in the past year, conservationists have revealed.

The endangered lesser horseshoe bat has seen a 10% spike in numbers over the past year at just one site between Brecon and Crickhowell in the Upper Usk Valley.

Conservationists at the Vincent Wildlife Trust said that the increase was “very encouraging news” for the survival of the species in Wales.

The increase in numbers means that more than 900 of the flying mammals are “roosting” at one site – meaning that it is the biggest single stronghold of the species in Europe.

Wales is home to more than half of the estimated 56,000 lesser horseshoe bats found in the UK, and around 4,200 (15% of the Welsh population) live in the Usk Valley area.

The Vincent Wildlife Trust (VWT) – which runs a Beacon for Bats programme to raise awareness of the populations – said that the unique geology and landscape of the valley may contribute to the flourishing numbers.

Numbers have generally been eroded with modern housing, as many houses are unsuitable for the bat’s specific needs.

Project officer Kirsty Mallindine said: “The reason they are rare is that they are essentially quite specific in what they need, in terms of habitat.

“They are fussy in that they look for nooks and crannies for feeding, and need to look for caves or ice houses to hang up in, it’s a specific habitat. The geology in that area is good for them.

“The species has seen a catastrophic decline throughout Europe and it has even become extinct in some parts of Britain. The major populations are restricted to South-West England, the West Midlands and Wales – those are the only places left.”

Ms Mallindine said that the VWT aimed to engage the local population to support conservation efforts, which included bat spotting and awareness raising.

The trust has worked to accommodate the plum-sized bat – smaller than the related greater horseshoe bat, roughly the size of a pear – by acquiring and adapting buildings as nature reserves.

The trust has 36 bat reserves for the species, ranging from small cottages to disused churches, with five in the Usk Valley.

Over the last two summers, field staff for VWT have radio-tracked bats at selected roosts, in order to find out more about how the bats use the surrounding landscape.

Miss Mallindine added: “We are so lucky to have this rare species on our doorstep and we have a duty to ensure its long-term survival.

“Local people are needed to help us survey populations and search for the specific landscape features they require.”

Anne Meikle, head of WWF Cymru, said: “Human activities are having a devastating effect on wildlife across the world, so it is encouraging to see this conservation project to support a rare species of bat.

“WWF’s aim is for people and wildlife to live in harmony – and this is a step in the right direction.”

Heather McFarlane from the Bat Conservation Trust said: “The lesser horseshoe bat is one of the rarest bats in the UK, so anything that can support their conservation and their stronghold in Wales is good news for the population as a whole.”