White-shoulderedBats receive international attention
Wildlife Biologist Anne-Louise Band hasreturned to the Cayman Islands for the third time with a grantfrom Bat Conservation International. This trip, she has been studyingthe White-shouldered Bat (Phyllops falcatus), a rare Caribbeanendemic species.Prior to its capture on Grand Cayman last year,this species was known in the Cayman Islands from only one specimen,taken by an Oxford expedition in 1938. Bones of this species havebeen found in barn owl roosts, but no live bats had been captureddespite great efforts. Thus, the White-shouldered Bat was fearedto be critically endangered or possibly extinct in the CaymanIslands. Now, with the surprising rediscovery of a breeding colonyin Lower Valley, it is hoped that this delicate fruit-eater willhave a place in the future of the Cayman Islands.
The plight of the tiny creature, which eatsmainly small wild fruits like figs and wild strawberries, hasattracted the attention of Bat Conservation International (BCI)and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN)It is hoped that with some funding from these and other internationalconservation bodies, and the support of the Cayman Islands government,that the habitat for this beautiful native mammal will be saved.
Ms. Band's work this year has been primarilyto capture White-shouldered Bats and attach tiny radio-transmittersto them.
Each bat then produces a signal on its ownchannel, which can be heard with an antenna and receiver. Thus,she can follow and locate the bats day or night, and determinewhat areas they are using.
White-shouldered Bats roost in small familygroups in mature trees during the day, and appear to require nativeforest for this purpose. At night, they also are using nativeforest as feeding areas, although they will "commute"through agricultural and suburban landscapes with tree cover.
The forest remnants used by the White-shoulderedBat are beautiful and contain many unusual trees, birds, and otherwildlife native to the Cayman Islands. Two other species of rarebats have been captured in these forests, including the endemicBig Brown Bat (Eptesicus fuscus spp. nov.), which is found onGrand Cayman and nowhere else, and the Buffy Flower Bat (Erophyllasezekorni).
National Trust Environmental ProgrammesManager, Dr. Mat Cottam has been assisting Ms. Band in the fieldand is also working with Mr. Fred Burton on the completion ofthe plant biodiversity survey for the area. Dr. Cottam commented,"It is wonderful that this tiny patch of forest supportsthis diversity of bat life. Working with Annie was fascinating.There is a lot more to bats than meets the eye I would liketo recommend that anyone with a love, (or fear!) of bats takethe opportunity to learn more about these mysterious creatures."
Slide Presentation
Wildlife Biologist, Annie Band will be presentinga slide show to the general public about bats and her researchat the West Bay Town Hall on Monday the 22nd at 7:30 pm. Thisis a great opportunity for families to come and learn about thefascinating world of bats. A live bat will be exhibited, givingchildren and adults a chance to see a bat up close and personal!The slides are colorful and exciting, and showcase the diversityof bats worldwide. Admission is free.