THE NUMBER of fruit bats in Cyprus has fallen by 95 per cent since 2005, leaving the species on the brink of extinction, animal rights group ARC/KIVOTOS said yesterday.
Cyprus is the only EU member state to host the fruit bat, Rousettus aegyptiacus. Rousettus are megachiropterans – very different from all the other small insect-eating bats, and are protected by law.
“Alas,” said Kyriacos Kyriacou co-founder of ARC/KIVOTOS “the protection was on paper only, and so we are losing this irreplaceable treasure”.
He said the numbers were shocking. Between 2005 and 2009 Rousettus numbers had fallen by a dramatic 85 per cent.
“By 2010 the EU’s only population of fruit bats has decreased by a shocking 95 per cent,” he said. “Most roosts are now empty, and this species is on the brink of extinction in Cyprus.”
“It is ironic that when Cyprus schoolchildren are enjoying KIVOTOS presentations and at last learning of the mysteries of our beautiful fruit bats, as a result of the lack of a National Bat Strategy (as seen in other countries), and of long-delayed roost protection by impenetrable metal grilles required to be put in place by the authorities, the children will never see these wonderful animals,” said Patricia Radnor, KIVOTOS education co-ordinator.
KIVOTOS also spoke of the threats of increasingly extreme weather conditions and desertification, as well as loss of habitat due to uncontrolled development.
In addition, bat conservation here lags decades behind European countries such as Portugal. “But it is a well known fact that entire colonies have been systematically wiped out by shooters,” the group said.
“The harmless animals are driven from their cave homes by setting fires, and then shot in cold blood. When this is done at the time when mothers are flying carrying their babies, it is little wonder that the populations have been so quickly destroyed,” it added.
It said research also reveals that the situation in Cyprus is very different from that in neighbouring countries, where populations appear to be doing well. “|And yet, in only 2007, Cyprus was said to have the most strong northerly fruit bat population. Now it is gone.”
KIVOTOS has been lobbying the authorities since 2006 to take urgent action to fulfil their legal conservation obligations for Rousettus. “Our cries have fallen on deaf ears”.
But, it added that on a positive note, as a result of research and special workshops at last week’s 15th International Bat Research Conference in Prague, the world’s chiropterology scientists were now aware of the dire situation in Cyprus.
“Perhaps now, effective emergency action will be taken,” said KIVOTOS.
“It has been hypothesised that the few remaining bats are leaving for Turkey. Genetic research is underway to verify this. What an irony for Rousettus to become a refugee from its own home.”
