Nigerian Researchers Make Case For Bats' Conservation, Say They Are Essential For Our Eco-System

By: Joseph A. Adudu, September 19, 2023

Straw coloured fruit bats

Bats are described as very essential Mammals for the functioning and well-being of the ecosystem because they are good pollinators.

This is the submission of two reseachers; Dickson Matthew, a researcher with AP Leventis and Ornithological Research Institute Jos and Mrs. Alai Lawal, an Ecologist and Conservation Biologist during a presentation of a research work before Management and staff of Jos Museum on Conservation Campaign for Bat Roost Protection in Plateau State, with focus on straw- colour fruit Bats at the Jos Museum, Jos Plateau State, North-Central Nigeria.

Dickson Matthew, Alai Lawal in a group photograph with management and staff of Jos Museum

According to Matthew, the work seeks to identify the ecological requirements of straw coloured fruit bats as well as the threats they face and create awareness for their conservation.

He explained that the AP Leventis and Ornithological Research Institute is currently working to study and conserve Bats in Northern Nigeria. "We are starting from Jos Plateau to identify places where these bats are after which we would be able to go to other parts of the region.

"We would study the environment that is suitable for these bats, what they require for their sustainable in the environment and the need to conserve them through community engagement and sensitization.

"So, by and large, the objective is to see that our bats which are seriously declining in population remain in our environment given the several benefits that we derive from them as humans and also what we can have to present to posterity if they remain".

In her submission, Alai Lawal, a Researcher who specializes in crop conservation and engages people, most especially students in conservation education activities around Plateau State stated that the straw colour fruit bat is the specie found in Jos Museum and one of the largest groups in the mammalian kingdom.

"We have over 1400 of these species on earth and in Africa, we have about 300 of them while in Nigeria, we have 90 species of these bats", Lawal said.

Dickson Matthew during his presentation

Both researchers highlighted the importance of bats, especially their contributions to the ecosystem. According to the researchers, their feeding plays an important ecological role since they can eat up to 1,200 mosquitoes in an hour and often consume their body weight in insects every night.

This, according to the reseachers is vital to keeping bug populations in check. Other bats eat fruit or nectar and serve as pollinators. Some of the fruits include, alvocado and banana. Bats are also said to be plant/seeds dispersal.

The largest threats faced by bats, as submitted by both Matthew and Lawal include rapid decreasing in population as a result of hunting, habitat loss, climate change, persecution among others.

Alai Lawal

The researchers also expressed disenchantment over African beliefs and misconceptions about Bats to be evil spirits, to carry rabies and or other diseases and that bats attack humans while a lot of people hunt them down for delicacies.

Some of the conservation measures, which also formed the basis of their awareness campaign according to the reseachers include planting wild plants, educating others and putting a stop to hunting of bats.

One of the challenges being faced by the reseachers in their study is the seasonality of the bats especially the ones in Gindiri and Jos Museum. According to Dickson Matthew, "They come in and go out. So, if I have to study them very well, I have to keep to time because if I don't, they will go and I will not have anything to study".

Cross section of management staff of Jos Museum during the presentation

Matthew revealed that the project was being funded and supported by Rufford Foundation (a charity organization) and AP Leventis and Ornithological Research Institute.

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