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Bats as pollinators, seed dispersers and preying insects are keystone species in ecosystems. Potential habitat and roosting sites of bats in Jodhpur region, a chiropteran diversity hotspot in Thar desert of India, facing serious threat of destruction with increasing anthropological pressures. Recent study shows four species of bats and various roos...
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... During this investigation, as observed earlier by Purohit et al. (2002) and Senacha (2003Senacha ( , 2009), we observed dead and decayed individuals of Rhinopoma microphyllum which got entangled in thorns of the trees of Prosopis juliflora, grown wildly at openings of certain microchiropteran roosts in the study area (Fig. 47). Scientifically, individuals of Rhinopoma microphyllum posses good power of echolocation and rely on it for navigation while performing their flying and foraging activities. ...
... Electrocution in individuals of megachiropteran species, Pteropus giganteus, as reported earlier by Purohit and Senacha (2003) and Senacha (2003Senacha ( , 2009) is common phenomenon and similar incidents were observed here during this investigation (Fig.48). Thirty five individuals of this species were found dead due to electrocution at various feeding locations in this study area. ...
... As described in final report of RSG 1 st Project (Senacha, 2009) establishment of wind energy farms, comprising of large number of wind mills, at various locations in study area could potentially be fatal to the life of bats foraging in their vicinity. Around 1000 plus wind mills have already been installed in different locations of the study area and many more are underway of installation (Fig.46). ...
... Prevailing myths, like some believe bats attack on nose and suck our blood and others consider them as sign of sin, destruction and poverty, and renovation and developmental activities in Rajasthan parts of the Thar are the apparent among cited reasons responsible behind short of decline in diversity of bats Senacha, 2003, 2004;Senacha, 2003). In the dearth of adequate knowledge about nature and ecological significance of bats, traditionally, people in this part do not appreciate presence bats in their surroundings and practices intentional damage to their roosts to get rid of them (Senacha, 2009). To achieve wider objectives of conservation of bats in the Thar Desert people in this area needs to be educated and sensitised about the significance and nature of bats. ...
... A logical approach of educating the people, through conservation campaign, in Jodhpur district about the nature and ecological significance of bats, during the RSG 1 st , was much appreciated and the response received from participants was overwhelming. The bat conservation campaign drive was quite successful here in eliminating the existing myths and inculcating a sense of appreciation among locals about bats (Senacha, 2009). ...
... Jodhpur, Jaisalmer and Bikaner districts represents more than 80% of the core desert area of the Thar Desert in Rajasthan (Fig. 1). However, Jodhpur has already been addressed in RSG 1 st (Senacha, 2009), to achieve wider objective of conservation of bats entirely in Rajasthan parts of 'the Thar' it is required that similar type of initiatives of bat conservation campaign be undertaken in Jaisalmer and Bikaner districts. ...
Bats play vital role in an ecosystem as pollinators, seed dispersers and insect eaters. The Thar, an important ecosystem of western India have seen remarkable depletion in populations and species diversity of bats over the last two decades. Apparent among cited reasons for deterioration in diversity of bats in the Thar are prevailing myths about nature of bats and lack of awareness among locals about their ecological role and importance. Districts of Jodhpur, Jaisalmer and Bikaner represent more than 80% of the core desert area in Rajasthan part of the Thar. However Jodhpur was recently been thoroughly surveyed to explore diversity of bats and addressed to create bat conservation awareness among locals through the years 2007-2009 in RSG 1st Project, Bikaner and
Jaisalmer remained unstudied. In RSG 2nd Project we intended to review the impact of RSG 1st bat conservation initiatives in Jodhpur and undertake a comprehensive survey to assess current status of bats and launch a similar bat conservation and awareness campaign in Jaisalmer and Bikaner districts.
The RSG 2nd Project was executed through the period of August 2010 to December 2011. A total of 245 roosts belonging to 11 species of bats (3 megachiropteran and 8 microchiropteran) were studied during this phase of project, of which 96 belongs to Jodhpur, 82 from Jaisalmer and 67 from Bikaner districts (Tables 1 - 6).
All, 96 bat roosts reported till the completion of RSG 1st from Jodhpur district, along with 11 and 9 explored previously from districts of Jaisalmer and Bikaner of the Thar Desert respectively were revisited and studied from species composition, population status and threats point of view. Moreover, 71 bat roosts in Jaisalmer and 58 in Bikaner districts were newly discovered, studied and being reported for the first time. Geoffroy’s Trident bat, Asellia tridens (Fig. 12) reported here during survey in Jaisalmer district is not only a new species of bat for the Great Indian Desert but also first record from India.
Beside this, collectively 172 settlements (town/villages/dhanis) were visited from Jaisalmer and Bikaner districts for bat conservation education campaign. Lectures themed of ecological significance, nature and diversity of bats in the Thar Desert were delivered in 4 colleges, 116 schools (112 co-ed. and 4 girl’s school), 35 village Panchayat Bhavans and about 70 small gathering at 6 different destinations. A sum of 10,000 pieces of informative educational material on scientific facts about bats of this region (500 big size, 1500 medium size posters/ 5000 postcards/ 3000 pamphlets) were prepared and distributed among target groups during this campaign (Photo gallery I, II) in attempt to create conservation awareness and to educate locals about ecological significance of bats dwelling in their locality.
Co-ordinators of the Bat Clubs, initiated in selected schools of Jodhpur district while implementation of RSG 1st Project, were approached, interacted to have updates on their annual activities and suggestions of improvement for better achievement were received. Enthusiastic teachers and students at selected schools in districts of Jaisalmer and Bikaner were encouraged to start similar Bat Clubs, such that their participating members be educated and trained to play vital role in protection of bat roosts and disseminating the scientific information about bats and their environmental importance to locals and their upcoming generations. 18 schools and 2 colleges were shortlisted near prominent bat
roosts in the study area and motivated to formulate bat clubs (Table 7).
Response of locals and students participated in Bat Conservation and Awareness Campaign commenced at districts of Jaisalmer and Bikaner too was quite remarkable and comparative, if not more, to that received in Jodhpur district while implementation of this campaign in RSG 1st Project. Alike Jodhpur more than 98% of targeted audiences were unaware of ecological significance of bats and 70-80% of them had strong belief in popular myths like bats attack furiously on human nose and consider them as sign of sin. They explained that because of inadequate knowledge about nature and ecological significance, as well in influence of prevailing myths people here in the study area had never ever admired the presence of bats in their surroundings, which in turn pose serious threat of intentional damage to the existing bat roosts.
But, because of our sincere efforts of disseminating the concrete scientific information about nature and ecological significance of bats, through launching and execution of the bat conservation and awareness campaign under this project, people in the study area have updated their knowledge and realized that bats are indeed quite useful creatures and play imperative role to insure good health of an ecosystem. Upon learning the importance and natural facts about bats they appeared quite excited and confident of discarding their fear of bats attacking human nose and got rid of prevailing myths of considering bats as sign of sin.
Moreover, they started believing that bats are environmental friendly creatures and deeply appreciated the objective of bat conservation and awareness campaign in this project. They were also quite impressed upon learning the fact that such useful project is launched and financially supported by a foreign organization based in U.K. and truly admired the novel effort of the Rufford Small Grants Foundation to fund this project.
