1000th observation passed!
Today, the AfriBats-project passed its 1000th observation with a beautiful series of long-term observations of a family of Mauritian tomb bats (Taphozous mauritianus) by Martin Grimm from Tanzania.
Since the last collection of highlights, there's been a fantastic and increasing number of bat observations from around Africa, Madagascar and smaller islands. Some were obtained during dedicated research projects while a large number was contributed by interested citizen scientists.
Jack Bradbury, of Hypsignathus-fame, shared some of his historic bat observations from Gabon, which date back to the 1970ies and which were taken during a time when technology was far less advanced than today. Hard to imagine the serious constraints to bat research back in the days!
A stunner is the offshore sighting of a straw-coloured fruit bat, Eidolon helvum.
The same species was the focus of James Agyei-Ohemeng's observations at the University of Natural Resources in Sunyani, Ghana, who documented the fluctuating occupation of roost trees by straw-coloured fruit bats.
It's always nice to see bats in action, e.g. fruit bats photographed while feeding as in this, this, this, and this observation.
My personal highlight is the probably first ever picture of a roosting short-palated fruit bat, Casinycteris argynnis, taken in Dzanga-Sangha National Park, CAR.
Another nice story is that of a Kenyan lady reporting bats from a cave in Karura Forest, Nairobi, which Paul Webala later tracked down and identified as Angolan collared fruit bats (Myonycteris angolensis).
New species such as Rhinolophus willardi or Rhinolophus cohenae have been described, and AfriBats is glad to showcase pictures of these as well as some other little-known species, which will hopefully also help to put them more into the focus of conservations efforts: although bats do not belong to the "charismatic megafauna", many are threatened and urgently need better protection. Have you ever heard about Morris' myotis (Myotis morrisi)?
Very special mention goes to Paul Webala from Kenya and Natalie Weber from Germany, who have both significantly contributed to the growth of AfriBats.
All in all, it's been a wonderful journey through the next bunch of 500 observations, and I look very much forward to your new contributions over the coming month. Please share your thoughts, and show your own highlights, all of which you can do by leaving comments on this post.
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I have some other photos of bats (and a few other animals) from my last trip to Africa. I can find them and send them to you. They may or may not be of any use.
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