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Pug bats in Baden-Württemberg: Researchers uncover secrets!
Experts are researching the pug bat in Baden-Württemberg using batcorders to protect threatened populations and secure habitats.
Pug bats in Baden-Württemberg: Researchers uncover secrets!
In a spectacular research project in Baden-Württemberg, experts have set their sights on the mysterious pug bat! This small, critically endangered bat, whose flat-nosed appearance resembles a pug dog, is not only difficult to find but also critically important to the ecosystem. Thanks to innovative listening techniques, scientists have now been able to track down dozens of these fascinating animals and gain important insights into their habitats.
With the help of so-called mini-batcorders, special recording devices that were hung in the forests, around 150 experts and committed volunteers managed to identify pug bats in twelve districts. In areas with optimal living conditions, 74 nursery quarters were discovered in which females raise their young. These successes are part of the nationwide project “Protection and Promotion of the Pug Bat in Germany” and show how important the preservation of this species is.
Drastic declines due to human influences
The pug bat has only survived in a few regions in Germany and Western Europe. The species is classified as critically endangered in the “Red List” of mammals. Historically, the intensification of forestry and agriculture in the 1950s to 1970s led to dramatic population declines. Pesticides also significantly reduced the food supply for these highly specialized animals. But there is hope: the pug bat is showing signs of returning!
Environment Minister Thekla Walker (Greens) expressed pride about the populations in Baden-Württemberg and emphasized the need to stabilize the population and promote its spread. Forestry Minister Peter Hauk (CDU) emphasized the importance of old, dead trees that serve as nurseries for the pug bat. This fascinating species was named “Bat of the Year” in 2020/2021 and became known for overwintering in tunnels on the Blumberger Sauschwänzlebahn. An impressive example of protecting nature and the challenges associated with it!