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News: The first-ever national assessment, “The State of India’s Bats (2024–25)”, highlights neglect, data gaps, and rising threats to bat species in India.
About State of India’s Bats (2024–25) Report
- It is the first national-level assessment of bat species status in India.
- Prepared by: The report is prepared by Nature Conservation Foundation and Bat Conservation International with inputs from 36 experts across 27 institutions.
- Key Findings:
- Total Diversity: India is home to around 135 bat species.
- Endemism: 16 species are endemic to India.
- Threat Status: 7 species are classified as threatened by IUCN.
- Data Gap: 35 species are data deficient or not assessed.
- Top Biodiversity States: West Bengal leads with 68 species, followed by Meghalaya (66 species) and Uttarakhand (52 species).
- Threats
- Urbanisation
- Deforestation
- Land-use changes
- Climate impacts
- Increased stigma after the COVID-19 pandemic
- Research and policy issues: The report highlights slow research permissions and need for urgent studies on habitats, ecology, diet, and disease risks.
About Bats
- Biological nature: Bats are mammals that give birth to live young, have fur-covered bodies, and are warm-blooded.
- Unique feature: They are the only mammals capable of true powered flight, which makes them unique among animals.
- Navigation ability: Most bats use echolocation, which helps them move and hunt in complete darkness.
- Ecosystem services: Bats provide important ecosystem services such as pollination, seed dispersal, pest control, and also contribute to soil nutrition through their droppings.
