Viewers of a very different kind of reality TV have been going batty in recent
weeks. People tuning into a live webcam of a greater horseshoe bat roost have seen
hundreds of the rare animals appearing on screen at one time.
The bat cam is beaming live pictures around the world from an undisclosed greater
horseshoe bat roost in South Devon. The camera was specially installed last winter
as part of the Devon Greater Horseshoe Bat Project - a 5 year Heritage Lottery
Funded initiative which is working towards sustaining Devon's population of these
threatened nocturnal animals.
Ed Parr Ferris is manager of the Devon Greater Horseshoe Bat Project and said:
'The bat cam is playing a key role showing as many people as possible what
fascinating creatures bats are. By logging on to our website http://www.devonbatproject.org and watching the live
footage, people can get a unique and intimate view into the lives of these wonderful
animals.'
Colin Morris, Reserves Manager for The Vincent Wildlife Trust which owns and manages
the site and is a partner in the project, said:
'The bats are very active at this time of year - people should keep their eyes
peeled as the female greater horseshoes are now giving birth. While difficult to see
during daytime, the new-born pups are left on their own once the adults go out to
hunt at night time. The coming days should see some drama as a succession of baby
bats appear on screen!'
Greater horseshoe bats have seen their numbers plummet by over 90% in the last 100
years. Today Devon remains a stronghold of the endangered species with about a third
of the UK population thought to be surviving in the county.
The Devon Greater Horseshoe Bat Project hopes to reverse the species' decline. Over
the coming years it will be working with local landowners, farmers and communities
across Devon ensuring that Devon remains a place which offers greater horseshoe bats
the room to live and flourish.
Ed Parr Ferris said:
'Devon still offers an important home to this rare and fascinating bat. We're lucky
that we have kept some of the kinds of landscapes they love - especially the
patchwork of small cattle-grazed fields, hedgerows and woodlands. It is this type of
countryside which still provides flight paths and rich feeding grounds for greater
horseshoes. Of course, it is also this kind of landscape which makes Devon such a
special place for us to live too.'
A Greater Horseshoe Bat - Photo copyright John J Kaczanow (All rights reserved)
About Devon Greater Horseshoe Bat Project
Devon is the northern European stronghold for greater horseshoe bats whose populations have fallen by over 90% in the last 100 years. The Devon Greater Horseshoe Bat Project is a partnership project of 15 organisations across Devon hosted and led by Devon Wildlife Trust
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