Wroughton’s free-tailed Bat

News: Wroughton’s free-tailed Bat (Otomops wroughtoni) has been sighted for the first time in northern India at Delhi’s Yamuna Biodiversity Park.

About Wroughton’s free-tailed Bat

• It is a highly rare species of molossid bat.
• Characteristics: This species is distinguished by its large size, prominent ears extending beyond the muzzle, and bicolored velvet-like fur.
• Habitat- The bat typically roosts in caves or dark, damp, and slightly warm environments, often forming colonies of moderate size.
• Distribution:
  • Primary Range: Found mainly in the Western Ghats, where a single known breeding colony exists.
  • Other Sightings: Small colonies have been observed in the Jaintia Hills of Meghalaya, and a lone individual was reported in Cambodia.
• Conservation Status:
  • IUCN: Listed as Data Deficient. Previously classified as Critically Endangered (until 2000) due to the sole known population in the Western Ghats.
  • Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I.
• Ecological Significance: The species plays a vital role in regulating insect populations and contributes to plant pollination.