A reproductive colony of rare Geoffroy's bats swirls about the entrance to Kozarnika Cave on Stara Planina Mountain in Bulgaria. (Photo courtesy of Rumyana Panduraska-Whitcher.)

Protecting a Rare Bulgarian Bat

One of the rarest bats in Bulgaria, Geoffroy's bat (Myotis emarginatus) roosts mostly in caves and old mines. That may be its undoing, as disturbances by cave explorers seem to be the major threat to the few Geoffroy's nursery colonies in the nation. Bulgarian zoologist Dr. Rumyana Panduraska-Whitcher, with a grant from BCI's Global Grassroots Conservation Fund, is beginning to remove that threat.

Though common in parts of France, Geoffroy's bat is rare in the rest of Europe and is on the European list of priority species that urgently need more research and protection. All of Bulgaria's 29 insect-eating bat species are protected by law, but Geoffroy's bat needs special attention because of the vulnerability of its natural roosts.

This educational brochure is part of a major effort, partly supported by BCI's Global Grassroots Conservation Fund, to study and protect Bulgaria's threatened Geoffroy's bats.

The research led by Panduraska-Whitcher of Bulgaria's Institute of Zoology in Sofia studied 10 nursery colonies, monitoring roost temperatures and other cave conditions, as well as the numbers of bats and their reproductive status. The researchers showed that colonies in roosts visited by humans were often declining, while those spared such disturbance remained constant or even increased their numbers during the past 10 years.

With data in hand, the team prepared a report for the national Ministry of Environment and Waters that proposed special protection for Kozarnika Cave, which houses 150 of the threatened bats. The Ministry now plans to declare the cave and its surroundings a protected site and national monument.

The researchers also proposed that regional authorities act to protect the entrances to other caves and bunkers used by Geoffroy's bats. Signs were posted at seven important roosts to restrict visits while the bats are giving birth and raising their pups.

The team produced 1,500 Geoffroy's bat posters for distribution to schools, cavers clubs, tourism groups, and others.

Partners in the project included the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (Institute of Zoology), the Bulgarian Federation of Speleology, the Natural Park “Vratchanski Balkan,” and the Bulgarian-Swiss Program. For more information, visit the project's Web site at www.museum-bourges.net.

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