Digital Documentation

Barring few, most of the bat species found in India do not have good photographs that can help in identification or conservation efforts. A good picture that portrays the bat in its natural surroundings and an attractive perspective could play a crucial role in strengthening conservation actions. We, at BCIT, have been photo documenting bats in their natural environment and have covered about 25% of the species so far.

Each insectivorous bat species emit echolocation call at different frequencies and these form a unique sonogram signature which helps in identification of species. An acoustic call library of various species can help in assessing the presence of a species in the region. Such data will aid in carrying out non-invasive surveys across wider area. There is no exhaustive call library that exists for bat species found in India. Through this project we are not only gathering acoustic data on our own but are also looking at collaboration with individuals and organizations to create a comprehensive call library.