Largest Known Pacific Bat Roost Revealed with Thousands of Endangered Bats in Fiji
Our team at Conservation International in Fiji has made a significant discovery on Vanua Balavu island in Lau that has ignited renewed hope for the endangered Pacific Sheath-tailed bat. In April 2023, we led a mission, in partnership with the Australian Museum and the University of Adelaide, and uncovered the largest known roost of these bats, with an impressive count of between 2,000 to 3,000 individuals.
Australian Museum’s Chief Scientist, Professor Kristofer Helgen led the bat-focused endeavor and identified this discovery as the most significant known population and roost for these bats in the region to date. This remarkable find indicates that the bats have a more widespread distribution and a larger population size than we previously understood.
This species plays a crucial role in maintaining ecological balance, serving as natural pest controllers and indicators of biodiversity health. The last study on these endangered bats in 2019 by the IUCN showed about 2,000 bats in Taveuni, Fiji in 2018, but this number dropped sharply to just a few hundred by 2019.
The discovery of this new roost, along with the identification of additional smaller caves on Vanua Balavu as habitats for the bats, highlights the island's critical importance in the conservation of this species.
Mere Lakeba Senior Director for the Fiji Program from our team has emphasized how this discovery will shape our local conservation strategies and reinforce the need for continued exploration and research. ““This finding is a landmark in the context of Conservation International's Lau Seascape Strategy. It serves as a powerful catalyst that energizes our terrestrial conservation strategies and reinforces our unwavering commitment to safeguard and restore the distinct biodiversity of this irreplaceable ecosystem.”
The Pacific Sheath-tailed is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and being a priority species for Bat Conservation International.