- Common Name
- Greater Mouse-tailed Bat
- Scientific Name
- Rhinopoma microphyllum
- Status
- Least Concern
- Photo Credit
- India
The goal of this work is to identify and establish long-term bat conservation initiatives in India that stabilize and recover rapidly decreasing populations.
The Need
India is home to a staggering 135 species of bats, 16 of which are found nowhere else in the world. Out of the 122 species assessed by the IUCN, only 23% have stable populations, with the rest decreasing. Only 12 species are protected under national law and six species are on the verge of extinction. Globally relevant problems such as human-bat conflict and wind energy continue unabated while scientifically-guided solutions remain out of sight.
Our Approach
To prevent the next species extinction, BCI and the Nature Conservation Foundation are working together to ensure the future of India’s bats are protected. Using a multifaceted approach and extensive collaboration across topic experts and national government bodies, we will design and implement conservation actions to protect India’s most vulnerable bat populations. Key themes of this work include bringing together the nation’s top bat experts to identify specific needs, priorities, and opportunities to protect India’s most vulnerable bat species. This will result in a comprehensive set of recommendations and priorities presented to governments
and international stakeholders. We are also working with wind energy companies and the Archaeological Survey of India to identify tangible ways to protect bat populations and mitigate human-bat conflict.
Our Impact
A significant investment in the conservation of India’s bats will ensure a better future for all. Together, we are safeguarding India’s natural heritage by tackling complex issues relating to ecosystem longevity through nation-wide collaboration, and working across the environmental, economic, and social sectors to meet local, national, and international challenges head-on.
About The Bats
The India Team
Isabella Mandl, Ph.D. – Regional Director, Africa & South Asia
Isabella has been working on research projects to support the protection of threatened species on
Madagascar and Comoros since 2013. She is a passionate conservation biologist who, besides
highlighting the importance of working with local communities, believes that understanding animal
behaviour is a key component for successful conservation management. Eager to provide support
where she can, Isabella acts as a mentor for students and early career scientists across Africa.
At BCI, Isabella leads the Livingstone’s fruit bat conservation project. She set up a study on the
species’ movements and is responsible for implementing research and survey protocols, with the
goal of understanding how the fruit bats use the landscape. The insights gained through this project
will be applied in conservation measures, preventing this important species from going extinct.
