Guwahati: On International Bat Appreciation Day, Friday, April 17, a new national assessment was released, raising concerns about bat populations in Assam, which are affected by habitat loss, mining, and changes in agriculture.
The assessment, titled State of India’s Bats (2024–25), the first nationwide evaluation in over two decades, documents 135 bat species in India, including 16 endemic species.
It notes that seven species are listed as threatened by the IUCN.
The assessment identifies the region as a major area for bat diversity, with Meghalaya recording 66 species. It also points to pressures in Assam, where colonies of Indian flying foxes (Pteropus giganteus) have been displaced due to tree felling and land use changes.
The study was prepared by 36 bat experts from 27 institutions and led by the Nature Conservation Foundation (NCF) and Bat Conservation International (BCI), with contributions from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI). Conducted over two years, it is based on published research, field data, and expert inputs.
It identifies habitat loss due to urban expansion and tree clearing, mining activities such as coal, limestone, and sand extraction, pesticide use in tea plantations, and monoculture farming as key factors affecting bat populations.
The report also notes hunting in nearby states and pollution as additional concerns. It highlights gaps in data related to species classification and long-term monitoring.
It recommends a 10-year conservation plan for the region, including monitoring of diseases, studies on pollution impact, and community involvement in protecting roosting sites. It also calls for improving public understanding of bats and their ecological role.
Conservationists in Assam say the findings come at a time of increasing development and habitat fragmentation. They state that coordinated action is needed to protect bat species and the ecological functions they support.