Status of Indian Bats (SoIBats) 2024–25: India’s First National Bat Assessment

The Status of Indian Bats (SoIBats) 2024–25 report marks the first comprehensive national assessment of bats in India. This landmark study highlights both the rich diversity of bat species in the country and the pressing challenges related to their conservation.

State of India’s Bats (2024–25) Report

¨  Thirty-four experts from 27 institutions carried out the two-year study titled ‘State of India’s Bats.

¨ The SoIbats was conducted in collaboration with the Nature Conservation Foundation (NCF) and Bat Conservation International (BCI).

Key Findings of the Report

¨    Data Deficit and Neglect: The report underlined that data deficit and neglect of bats is a major concern.Around 35 species are either not assessed or data deficient, which means the current conservation picture is incomplete. This lack of data prevents accurate evaluation of species status and risks.

¨ Ecological Importance of Bats: Bats play a crucial role in pollinating plants, dispersing fruit seeds, controlling pests that damage crops, and providing soil nutrition through their droppings. Their ecosystem services directly support agriculture, biodiversity, and soil health.

¨   Endemism and Threat Status: Out of 135 bat species, 16 are endemic (about 12 percent), meaning they are found only in India. Among these, seven species are listed under threatened categories by the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List.

¨ Distribution and Diversity Pattern: The report documented significant inter-variability in distribution. West Bengal leads with 68 species, followed by Meghalaya (66), Uttarakhand (52), Sikkim (43), and Kerala and Karnataka with 41 each.In contrast, Haryana and Punjab recorded only five species, largely due to limited forest cover and farm expansion.An important urban insight is that Delhi recorded 15 bat species despite urbanisation pressures, showing adaptability but also highlighting habitat stress.

¨     Roosting Behaviour and Habitat: Bats were found to roost across natural habitats and man-made structures. Caves and trees are the most common roosting sites, with caves offering a stable microclimate and protection from environmental fluctuations and predators.A notable example is the Robber’s cave in Mahabaleshwar, which hosts nearly 1 lakh individuals of Phillip’s long-fingered bat during the breeding season.Certain species show extreme habitat specificity. The Critically Endangered Hipposideros hypophyllus is known from only one cave at the base of a granite hill in Kolar district, Karnataka.

¨  Regional Research Bias: Most studies on the ecology and biology of bats are concentrated in the southern states, particularly the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot, leaving large parts of India under-researched.

Threats to Bat Species

¨  Habitat loss driven by urbanisation, deforestation, land-use changes, and climate change is a major factor impacting bat populations.

¨   Mining activities and hunting pose direct threats to certain species, especially those with restricted habitats.

¨  Negative public perception of bats has intensified, particularly after the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to stigma and persecution.

¨  Bats are often misrepresented only as disease carriers, ignoring their ecological importance, which further aggravates their conservation challenges.