Home The official website for the Bat Specialist Group of the IUCN Species Survival Commission
The Bat Specialist Group (BSG) is one of a number of specialist groups formed within the Species Survival Commission (SSC) of IUCN-The World Conservation Union (IUCN). We are a collaborative multidisciplinary network of bat biologists and conservationists providing support and promoting bat conservation activities throughout the world.
Bats make up one fifth of all terrestrial mammals (1,116 species). They are among the most endangered of the world's creatures, primarily because much of their habitat has been eliminated by human development or because they are persecuted. Because bats are important seed dispersers and pollinators for many native plants, and key insect predators globally, their loss has serious consequences for the ecosystems to which they belong.
Bats make up one fifth of all terrestrial mammals (1,116 species). They are among the most endangered of the world's creatures, primarily because much of their habitat has been eliminated by human development or because they are persecuted. Because bats are important seed dispersers and pollinators for many native plants, and key insect predators globally, their loss has serious consequences for the ecosystems to which they belong.
Latest News
Red List Focal Point Coordinators appointed for Old and New World . Click here Posted 22 March 2013.
Afribats!! Find out about a new Citizen Science Project documenting bat distributions in Africa and surrounding islands and see how you can contribute. Posted here for details. Posted 22 Jan 2013
Save the date ! 16th International Bat Research Conference, Costa Rica 11-16 August 2013. Click here for details. Posted 28 Nov 2012
The WCPA-SSC Joint Task Force on Biodiversity Protected Areas in collaboration with the Institute of Zoology, ZSL and WWF, is tasked with conducting a global assessment on the best predictors of success for protected areas in conserving biodiversity and is collecting population abuunnddaannccee ddaattaa ffoorr aa eemmtt Click here . Posted 28 Nov 2012.
Publication on Rousettus bats in Madagascar preferring native and commercially unimportant Fruits. Click here for a summary on our news page.
Click here to access the pdf. Posted 22 Nov 2012
African Bat Conservation Summit: Establishing a Bat Conservation Network- 2013. Click here . Posted 1 Sept 2012
Year of the bat
To celebrate the environmental impact of bats and encourage more international cooperation on bat conservation, the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) and EUROBATS have designated 2011 European Year of the Bat and 2012 International Year of the Bat. The Year of the Bat aims to raise awareness of these often misunderstood animals and their diverse biodiversity benefits. The Bat Specialist Group is proud to be a partner in the Year of the Bat initiative, and we will be working to highlight the conservation plight of fruit bats across the globe with many exciting new conservation and education awareness initiatives in 2011-2012. Please visit the Year of the Bat website to read more!
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