Conservation Status of Bats of Southern Western Ghats, India, With Particular Reference to Salim Ali’s Fruit Bat (Latidens salimali)

16 Jun 2014 Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, India, Indian Sub-continent Bats | Mammals

Juliet Vanitharani


Other projects

14 Aug 2002

Conservation Status of Bats in the Agesthiyer Hill Range in the Western Ghats, India

8 Jan 2004

Conservation Status of Bats in the Agasthiyar Hill Range in the Western Ghats, India, with Particular Reference to Salim Ali's Fruit Bat I

19 Jul 2005

Conservation Status of Bats in the Agasthiyar Hill Range in the Western Ghats, India, with Particular Reference to Salim Ali's Fruit Bat II

Project aims to:

•Conservation of Western Ghats bats of India with special reference to Latidens salimalii. (Endemic endangered Fruit bat).Database creation on bat ecology, diversity, distribution, richness and anthropogenic threat using acoustic monitoring techniques with aim focused on the taxonomy and conservation of South East Asian bat species conservation.

•Identify bats as a bio-indicator of ecosystem and assess their bio-indications on habitat health to draft management action plan for biodiversity conservation. Promote bat conservation at community level through bat awareness programmes and academic workshops.

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Conservation of Western Ghats bats of India with special reference to Latidens salimalii. Raise the status of bats as a priority for conservation amongst the Government department (Forest and Wildlife) policies.

Bats rarely feature in conservation protocols of Indian Wildlife. This is partly due to more charismatic species often taking priority, and a lack of knowledge regarding the importance of bat populations in the restoration and enrichment of ecosystems. Fruit bats are listed as ‘Vermin’ by the Indian government. This poses a threat to local populations of all bat species. Project has plans for creation of database on bat ecology, diversity, distribution, richness and anthropogenic threat with aim focused on the taxonomy and conservation of South East Asian bat species; also will procure an inventory record on bat species throughout Southern India using acoustic monitoring techniques. The data collected will be collated into a call library of bats which can be used for on-going monitoring of bat species numbers. Link this species information as bio-indication for habitat improvement. Disseminate the research outcome to Govt. of India (Tamil Nadu Forest Department and Ministry of Environment and Forests), emphasising both the biodiversity value and the commercial value through the ecosystem services of bats. Project outcome will address the policy makers and demand Ministry of Environment and Forests, Govt. of India to revise the Indian Wildlife Protection Act to remove fruit bats from Schedule V (vermin category).Insist Wildlife policies, plans and strategies should also be incorporated on the interests of Chiroptera.

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