<
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/jul/30/southern-bent-wing-bat-population-decline>
"A sudden decline in critically endangered bats is troubling experts, who
recorded about 5,000 fewer southern bent-wing bats than usual at Naracoorte’s
“bat cave” this summer.
These tiny russet-toned microbats roost in caves and forage for insects over
long distances across south-west Victoria and south-east South Australia.
Through summer, the Naracoorte cave in South Australia – one of three maternity
sites for the species – becomes home to the largest population when the bats
return to give birth and raise their young.
Over the past five years, the peak population at Naracoorte has averaged 28,600
adults, but last summer, that fell by about 14-16%.
“We’ve lost quite a lot of the adults,” said bat ecologist Nicola Bail, who
coordinates the species recovery team at Zoos Victoria.
“We’re really not sure what the cause of this decline is, but it is really
concerning, especially with so many threats operating in the range of the
southern bent-wing bat.”
Population counts at the world heritage-listed site date back to the 1960s,
when as many as 200,000 bats were recorded. Severe declines since then have
seen southern bent-wing bats listed as one of Australia’s eight critically
endangered mammals.
“They’re still hanging on. They’re a real little fighter,” Bail said."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
