Bats

Despite the high profile of Madagascar’s land mammals, the bats were often neglected during the many rapid biodiversity assessment surveys that were conducted on the island in the late 1980s and 1990s. The first solution to this problem was to raise the capacity of Malagasy scientists to engage in bat conservation studies because it was clear that bats were not on the agenda of visiting scientists. Consecutive projects by the Darwin Initiative and the University of Aberdeen were trained and sponsored 15 Malagasy biologists (Publications).

The Alaotra-Mangoro Region

Since 2003, Madagasikara Voakajy and ACCE have been working together to protect small (< 20 ha) fragments of humid forest that contain large colonies (> 1,000) of the Madagascar flying fox P. rufus. These sites are at 20-25 km from the nearest intact forest (Zahamena-Ankeniheny) and receive no formal protection. We have surveyed other parts of the region for flying foxes and, in collaboration with Association Mbarakaly, are working to protect roosts near Anosibe An’ala.

Our activities and achievements in the region include:

1. Monthly monitoring at seven P. rufus roosts since 2003
2. Signed a dina (set of laws developed and implemented by the community) to protect P. rufus roosts in seven communes
3. Studied the diet and movements of P. rufus
4. Building or repairing 11 primary schools in villages near to P. rufus roosts
5. Surveyed the Zahamena-Ankeniheny corridor for fruit bat roosts
6. Surveyed the bats in and around Mantadia National Park and the Analamazaotra Special Reserve.
7. Studied the habitat use and diet of Rousettus madagascariensis
8. Investigated the impact of flying foxes as pests of fruits such as litchi

This work is currently supported by the British High Commission (Mauritius), Lubee Bat Conservancy, International Foundation for Science, IUCN Sir Peter Scott Fund and the Disney Wildlife Conservation Fund.

The Anosy Region

Our activities and achievements:

1. Survey of the bat roosts of Tsitongambarika forest
2. Studies of the habitat use of insectivorous bats in littoral forest
3. Conservation education visits to primary schools to promote bat conservation
4. Promoting on the importance of sacred forests and supporting community groups to conserve flying fox roosts

Flying Foxes and Baobab Conservation

Madagascar’s baobab trees are world famous and feature on t-shirt, postcards and websites. Of the six species that are endemic to Madagascar, two (Adansonia suarezensis and Adansonia grandidieri) are pollinated by nocturnal mammals (i.e. bats and lemurs). Both of these baobab species are listed as Endangered by the IUCN Red List and face an uncertain future.

In 2005 we based our work in on A. grandidieri in th Kirindy-Mitea National Park in the Menabe Region and in 2007 and 2008 will focus on A. suarezensis in the Diana Region in northern Madagascar.

Education Initiatives for Bat Conservation

In the absence of nation framework (i.e. legislation) to protect bats we run local conservation education programmes to help local communities and environmental managers to understand more about bats.

1. In 2005 we held a workshop in Moramanga to develop ways of incorporating bat conservation into primary school teaching. This was attended by ANGAP, Madagascar Fauna Group, The Peregrine Fund and Action Comores
2. Houston Zoo and American Zoo Association Bat Taxon Advisory Group donated a flying fox conservation kit for schools. It consists of games, books, models and bat costumes, to which we added a film in the Malagasy language. We know use this kit in conservation days at primary schools in all of our project sites
3. A total of 1072 children and 104 teachers from 16 schools have been involved
4. In collaboration with the Malagasy government we have produced teaching modules on bat conservation for teachers in primary schools. Designed for three age groups, the modules are currently being tested in schools in the Alaotra-Mangoro, Melaky and Anosy Regions.
   

Conserving a Malagasy Giant: Hipposideros commersoni

1. Determine whether H. commersoni can exist in sites without intact forest
   
   
2. Determine its roosting and foraging behaviour in different seasons
   
   
3. Determine whether hunting at roost sites by local people is a threat or whether it is or could be, sustainable
   

The Conservation and Ecology of Rousettus madagascariensis

Our activities:

1. Study the diet and observe foraging behaviour to find out whether native forest plants or cultivated fruits are preferred
   
2. Determine whether R. madagascariensis is primarily a nectarivore of frugivore
   
3. Investigate patterns and impacts of hunting on R. madagascariensis
4. Developing partnerships with villages to promote roost conservation
5. Raising the profile of bat conservation through an education awareness initiative
   

Bat surveys for conservation

Since 2002 we have surveyed the following sites for bats:

1. Mantadia National Park
   
2. Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park
   
3. Namoroka National Park
   
4. Isalo National Park
   
5. Analamazaotra Special Reserve
   
6. Anjohibe forest and caves
   
7. Tsitongambarika forest
   

Assessing forest dependency

It is important to know which bat species are dependent on intact forest for their survival. This would allow conservation effort to be channeled to the most threatened bats and would also enable changes in forest cover to be used as a proxy for bat abundance and distribution during Red List assessments.

1. Acoustic sampling
   
2. Prey sampling and faecal analyses
   
3. Mist netting
   
4. Radio tracking