Monthly Report September 2016 Trianops afer The African Trident Bat 1 ABC Staff Dr Emma Stone Matthew Town Godwin Zimba Victor Chagoma Coordinator/Founder Senior Research Assistant Community Outreach Community Outreach Kathy Halsall Peter Phiri Kate Derrick Urban Research Assistant Research Assistant Research Assistant Contents News 2 Mystery of the Cave Dwelling Bats 2 Nocturnal Birds 2 Challenges from the Health Centre 3 Nine Species Captured in Single Survey 3 Natural Resources Committee Meeting 4 Bats Beneath the Airstrip 4 Summary of Work 5 Outreach Work 5 Urban Project News 6 The Project Begins 6 Urban Biodiversity Monitoring Surveys 6 Community Work and Bat Guardian & Guano Project 7 Bat Helpline Gets Off the Ground 7 Urban Household Bat Survey 7 BMP Map of Liwonde 8 Sponsors of ABC 9 1 News Mystery of the Cave Dwelling collected since 2014 could support this migration theory as the species is only Bats caught in LNP in September. Three cave roosting bats species, The same is true of the Egyptian fruit bat Miniopterus spp. have been caught in which is only caught in LNP in August. There Liwonde NP (LNP) this month. It is not is some past anecdotal evidence possible in the field to separate two of the (Jacobson & du Plessis,1976) that at least species with certainty but it is most likely to some populations across the species’ range be Miniopterus natalensis, the Natal long- is migratory. fingered bat (Figure 1). The mystery presented by the capture of these bats is that all Miniopterus species are heavily cave dependant and roost in huge numbers. The same is also true of the Egyptian fruit bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus) which is also caught in the park (Figure 2). This could indicate that there is an unknown cave complex somewhere in the vicinity. However, the second possibility is that Liwonde is situated along a migratory route Figure 2. The Egyptian fruit bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus) for the species. Liwonde National Park may play an essential role along the migratory routes of these two species adding to importance of the park for the biodiversity across the region. Nocturnal Birds The ABC bat team have had encounters with two rarely seen birds this month. A Pel’s fishing owl (Scotopelia peli) was Figure 1. The Natal long-fingered bat (Miniopterus na- roosting in a large tamarind tree above talensis) camp for a day. It sat suspiciously watching the people beneath it staring with Miniopterus are known to migrate between binoculars before going back to sleep. warmer winter hibernation sites and cooler Unfortunately, this hasn't become a regular summer maternity roosts and are strong roost for the bird and he has not returned seasonal breeders, giving birth (after a since. A bat hawk (Macheiramphus period of delayed implantation) at the alcinus) was hunting bats by LWRIV02, one beginning of the wet season. Data of our survey sites. 2 The hawk flew at one bat which narrowly Nine Species Captured in a escaped and then seized another bat from Single Survey the air which began squeaking in defence and must have bitten the bird as it let go. Surveys this month included what turned The bat retreated to a large baobab. out to be an extremely diverse site. LWRIV07 Unfortunately this all happened in a split has always been a particularly abundant second, before anyone could take a site but this month’s survey broke the record photo! with 16 bats, including 9 different species from 4 families. Challenges of the Health Centre Some of the most notable bats caught Despite the ABC team’s best efforts, a few include Ruppell’s pipistrelle (Pipistrellus bats returned to the Nandumbo health rueppelli, Figure 5), a striking black and centre. Angolan free-tailed bats (Mops condylurus) seem intent on getting back into the building. The ABC bat team returned to the building with an endoscope and thoroughly checked every part of the building (Figure 3). Only a few bats, (<20), Figure 5. Ruppell’s pipistrelle (Pipistrellus rueppelli) white bat found at riverine sites. A Hildebrandt’s horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus hildebrandtii) (Figure 6), which are normally skilled at evading capture due to their very advanced echolocation (provided in part Figure 3. Peter and Godwin blocking holes by the complex horseshoe structure of the were in the building and the team blocked nose) and superior aerial manoeuvrability, the last possible entry points and reinforced was caught in a Harp Trap. the one-way door which allows bats to exit but not to re-enter (Figure 4). Hopefully this will be enough to remove the last few bats. The health centre building has been one of the most challenging exclusions the bat team have Figure 6. Hildebrandt’s horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus hilde- Figure 4. reinforcing the performed. brandtii) one-way door 3 ABC Meets with the Natural This will enable Godwin to work closely with the community in Makote in the future Resources Committee of Makote This month Education and Outreach Officer, Godwin Zimba assisted by Research Bats Beneath the Airstrip Assistant, Kate Derrick and volunteers Eric ABC has been monitoring many roosts in Chisale and Gary Pierce attended a the park since the project began. One of these roosts, LWROOST15 is located in a culvert beneath the airstrip in the north of LNP. The roost contains Sundevall’s leaf-nosed bats (Hipposideros caffer, Figure 8). However, it has been suspected that individuals from another family of bats, Nycteridae, the slit-faced bats are also present. This was based on a photo taken Figure 7. Godwin delivering a presentation to the com- looking down the culvert. mittee Natural Resources Committee meeting at Makote village located in the Machinga District. Godwin and Eric both delivered education presentations to the committee members which covered subjects such as the importance of bats in the ecosystem, how bats benefit humans and the ecosystem services they provide (Figure 7). The committee was extremely receptive to Figure 8. Sundevall’s leaf-nosed bat (Hipposideros caffer) the presentations and some members even spoke about their own positive experience An attempt to trap the bats in this roost with bats and using their guano as fertiliser. took place. Trapping leaf-nosed bats is Godwin worked hard to dispel many myths difficult as they are very agile fliers and can about bats. One of the most interesting turn 180 degrees in the air . Despite this, the myths which surfaced at the meeting was trapping attempt was successful and that bats are drawn to fire and eat smoke. several bats were caught. A large-eared slit This was unexpected but not surprising as -faced bat (Nycteris macrotis) was also bats many forage over fires , just as birds caught but, surprisingly, it was not caught do, to catch insects fleeing the flames. leaving the roost, but entering it with a An ABC community facilitator, many of large insect in its mouth. It may have been which are recruited across the region to act using the culvert as a feeding roost. as our point of contact and to gather initial information on conflict situations, was identified from the committee. 4 Outreach work carried out in September around LNP Materials Date Type District Village/Location Outcomes Distributed Balakasi, Initial contact made with Group Initial 30/08/2016 Machinga M’gundiwa, 6 leaflets Village Headmen and project Contact Wadi introduced. Mang’amba, Initial contact made with Group Initial 02/09/2016 Machinga Mjahito, 7 Leaflets Village Headmen and project contact Njenjema, introduced. Education and awareness session. Education 08/09/2016 Machinga Makoti 16 Leaflets Delivered education to the Villlage meeting Natural Resources Committee. Initial Contact Mlambe and Initial contact with Mlambe. 14/09/2016 and Balaka Nanthomba 4 Leaflets Attended Ecoclub to introduce the Education Primary School project at Nonthomba. Meeting Education and awareness session. Education 15/09/2016 Machinga Limbundungwa 19 Leaflets Delivered education to the Villlage Meeting Natural Resources Committee. Education and awareness session. Education 21/09/2016 Machinga Njenjema, 18 Leaflets Delivered education to the Villlage Meeting Natural Resources Committee. Initial Mlambe Primary Contact School, Initial contact for Namaloumbo. 22/09/2016 and Balaka Namaloumbo 32 Leaflets Education and awareness session Education Secondary for Mlambe Ecoclub. Meeting School Initial contact made with Group Initial Namaya, 27/09/2016 Balaka 4 Leaflets Village Headmen and project contact Chikolongo, introduced. Chikoleka Initial 27/09/2016 Balaka Primary School, 6 Leaflets Initial contact made with schools contact Ngasale Private 5 Urban Bat Research Project The Project Begins Following much planning, this month, our urban bat project began. The research is being conducted by Kathy Halsall, the Urban Bat Research Assistant. This new project in Lilongwe aims to study bat biodiversity in the city and identify significant roosting and foraging sites important to the urban bat population. Urban wildlife across Africa are often poorly understood and we hope to make some Figure 9. Little epauletted fruit bat from a roost at Kum- significant discoveries to inform bali Lodge conservation and biodiversity management within the city. Bats are key bio-indicator educate people about the benefits of bats species and therefore data collected will and the role they play in the ecosystem. be used to assess the health of the urban People always seem much more interested ecosystem. when you tell them bats eat hundreds of mosquitos each night. One of the most exciting research projects planned is to study the straw-coloured fruit Urban BMP Surveys bat (Eidolon helvum). In November, once During September we surveyed 10 sites in the straw coloured fruit bats return Lilongwe as part of the Biodiversity individuals will be fitted with GSM tags to Monitoring Programme (BMP).