Researchers in Kerala strive to better understand flying mammals

Myths, superstitions, and zoonotic diseases such as COVID-19 and Nipah virus have created a negative impression of bats. The effect is that these nocturnal, flying mammals are losing habitat and their numbers are declining.

With their bat eradication campaign, the team in Kerala is on a mission to train the next generation of bat researchers and raise awareness about bat species diversity and ecosystem function.

The Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment and the Kerala Forest Research Institute (KFRI) in Peechi, Thrissur recently organized a training program on bat taxonomy, acoustics and biogeography.

The campaign addresses the urgent need to address the challenges posed by emerging zoonotic diseases and the continuing threats facing bat populations, including habitat loss and the clearing of flying fox roosts. It started with sex.

“This program has served as a platform for researchers to acquire the skills and knowledge needed to tackle these challenges head-on,” said Peroot Balakrishnan, Head of KFRI’s Wildlife Department. We are proud to continue to develop passionate young people dedicated to bat research and conservation.”

Sreehari Raman, assistant professor at the Kerala Agricultural University, who participated in the program, emphasized the importance of taxonomy training in bat conservation and said, “Taxonomy forms the basis of bat research and conservation efforts. “Identifying and classifying bats is essential to implementing effective conservation strategies and understanding the ecological role of bats.”

An expert from Thailand gave a session on bat taxonomy. Pipat Sosok, research lecturer and curator of mammals at Thailand’s Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Natural History Museum, emphasized the need for collaboration among South Asian researchers on bats. “With many bat species overlapping in the South Asia region, collaboration among researchers is essential. By sharing data, resources and expertise, we can deepen our understanding of these fascinating creatures and We can work towards conservation,” he said.

Rohit Chakravarty from the Nature Conservation Foundation and Bat Conservation International shares his insights into bat acoustics and monitoring techniques, highlighting the importance of adopting modern tools to study these nocturnal creatures. did.

The program also delved into topics such as biodiversity genomics, social structure, and bat mating systems, with sessions led by Ashoka University’s Balaji Chattopadhyay and Kritika M. Garg. Baheerathan Murugavel, a research fellow at IISER Mohali, provided insights into the use of telemetry technology to study the locomotor ecology of bats.

citizen science

Dr Peroot, along with wildlife biologist Nithin Divakar, discussed citizen science and participatory approaches in bat conservation, emphasizing the role of community involvement in monitoring and conserving bat species.

Parvathy Venugopal, head of research for the British Bat Conservation Trust’s National Bat Monitoring Program, tells the story of Britain’s longest-running citizen science program and the potential lessons it can teach.

Divakar and Mahalakshmi Chelladurai, who were recently selected for Bat Conservation International’s student fellowship program, highlighted the various funding opportunities for students working on bat research.

At least 35 bat researchers from various institutions across the country participated in the training program. Training on bat monitoring using sensor technology, taxonomy, acoustics, and bat photography provided hands-on experience. This program was supported by the Conservation Leadership Program and Bat Conservation International.