New Delhi, Apr 17 (PTI) Delhi marked International Bat Appreciation Day on Friday with the launch of a first-of-its-kind field publication aimed at raising awareness about urban biodiversity, highlighting the presence and ecological importance of bats in the national capital.
Titled ‘Bats of Delhi NCR’, the fold-out guide has been developed by World Wide Fund for Nature-India (WWF-India) in collaboration with Nature Conservation Foundation (NCF), Centre for Wildlife Studies (CWS) and Bat Conservation International (BCI), an official statement said.
The publication documents 12 out of the 15 bat species recorded in Delhi and is designed as a compact field guide with details on species identification, habitat, diet and behaviour, along with locations where they can be spotted across the city, it said.
The launch event, held in the national capital, was followed by a guided “Bat Walk” led by Rohit Chakravarty of the CWS. Researchers, conservationists, students and nature enthusiasts participated in the walk.
Participants used bat detectors to observe and understand bat activity and vocalisations in real time, the statement added.
“The biggest problem that bats face is their bad reputation. The fear and misunderstanding come because most people haven’t seen bats up close or learnt more about their behaviour. Such walks have the potential to change public perception and create a well-informed citizen base that will support bat conservation,” the statement quoted Chakravarty as saying.
Delhi supports 15 bat species that play a crucial role as pollinators, seed dispersers and natural pest controllers, contributing significantly to maintaining ecological balance in the city.
However, threats such as habitat loss due to declining old trees and heritage structures, rapid urbanisation, pesticide use and misinformation-driven persecution continue to affect bat populations, according to the statement. PTI SGV AMJ AMJ
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