Nineteen bat species have been recorded in Cyprus to date, according to Forest Officer and biodiversity officer at the Department of Forests, Charis Nikolaou. He adds that all the bat species now on the island arrived naturally, unlike most other mammals, which were introduced by humans.
Of the 19 species found in Cyprus, 18 are microbats that feed exclusively on insects. Only one is a megabat, which feeds mainly on fruit: the locally known ‘nychtopapparos’ (also called ‘nychtokorakas’), the largest bat species in Cyprus.
Description
Asked about their appearance, Mr Nikolaou said most species generally resemble a mouse, while many of the larger ones look fox-like. Although they fly like birds, bats are mammals: they give birth to live young (not eggs) and suckle them. Their skin is covered with hair and, instead of feathered wings, they have wings formed by a membranous skin. They have good eyesight, but their most developed sense is hearing. A hallmark is their ability to orient themselves in the dark better than any other nocturnal animal: by emitting ultrasounds in different directions (at frequencies inaudible to humans) and receiving the echoes, they navigate, locate prey, avoid obstacles and return to their roosts.
According to Mr Nikolaou, bats live in almost all types of habitat except polar and desert zones, where conditions are extreme. They generally prefer mixed and broadleaf forests with old hollow trees, areas with water such as rivers, lakes and marshes, as well as meadows, agricultural land and inhabited areas.
They take shelter and roost in caves, tree hollows and old buildings. They do not necessarily use the same refuge all year, and some species are migratory. Bats are nocturnal, active only at night, while most species rest by day in their refuges, hanging upside down. The widespread belief that bats feed on blood is incorrect: only three of the world’s roughly 1,200 bat species feed on blood taken from birds or mammals. Globally there are around 1,200 bat species, about a quarter of all mammal species and, Mr Nikolaou notes, bats are the only mammals capable of true flight.
Protection measures
In Cyprus, as elsewhere, bats are threatened mainly by human activity, and most bat species are among the world’s most endangered mammals. Measures taken by the competent departments, within European programmes and from their own budgets for biodiversity focus, Mr Nikolaou said, on conserving habitats, especially roosting sites.
Key actions include: not sealing caves, but instead fitting barred gates so bats can enter; controlling the felling of old hollow trees; installing artificial roosts (special wooden bat boxes) about four metres above ground; monitoring the use of agrochemicals; ensuring human structures such as sheds, houses and other buildings used by bats do not block their access; and scrutinising permits for developments such as photovoltaic parks, which can deprive bats of foraging areas.
Other practices
Because the fruit-eating species is considered harmful to crops, it has been heavily persecuted in other countries and in Cyprus. Combined with habitat loss, this has caused serious declines over the past 20 years, with seasonal fluctuations. The ‘nychtopapparos’ was officially classed as a pest from the early 20th century. In 1927, a culling campaign began using methods such as poisoning bats inside caves, shooting them, and even state bounties for dead animals. The campaign officially ended in 1983. Poisoning in caves not only killed bats but devastated entire cave ecosystems, while shooting was often carried out by people unable to identify species, leading to the destruction of other bat species as well.
Misunderstood!
Mr Nikolaou noted that bats have long been misunderstood and persecuted, linked in folklore with superstition and bad omens, perhaps because of their unusual appearance or nocturnal habits. In reality, they are highly beneficial animals that must be protected, as their populations are declining worldwide. “They contribute to the biological control of agricultural and forest pests -which they eat- and they consume overripe fruit. This reduces the need for chemical insecticides, which are known to harm the environment.” Many people also use their droppings (guano) as fertiliser, a harmless powder made of insect remains.
“It is our duty to protect these rare and threatened creatures that have been so misunderstood by humans, for the sake of biodiversity and our natural heritage,” he said. These species, which have survived and evolved over millennia, are threatened only by human activities. “We have a duty to take all necessary measures to ensure not only their survival but also the strengthening of their populations, because we need healthy, intact ecosystems in which every organism lives in its own niche and plays its own important role,” he concluded.
