Ecuadorian Sac-winged Bat (Balantiopteryx infusca)

Mohamed bin Zayed Species project number 162514219

Conservation actions for the Ecuadorian Sac-winged Bat, Balantiopterix infusca, in Northwestern Ecuador

As members of the Ecuadorian Bat Conservation Program (PCME) we are dedicated to promoting bat conservation across Ecuador through research and environmental education. 

The PCME, along with the Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador and the Ministry of Environment have released the Action Plan for Ecuadorian Bat Conservation, a document that defines key conservation activities for the next five years focused on 19 threatened species, four threatened zones and three ecosystem services also under threat.

Balantiopteryx infusca is listed as Vulnerable according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (2016). Nonetheless, according to the Red Book of Mammals of Ecuador (2011), this species is listed as Critically Endangered mainly due to its limited geographical distribution, deforestation, and the subsequent problems of habitat loss and fragmentation, being the tropical rain forests of Esmeraldas province one of the most affected in the country.

Since B. infusca is little known in the country it is of great importance to determine the actual threats this species is facing. 

For that, we have accomplished:

- Monitor the bat population in the study area (tunnels)

- Declaration of the Lita tunnels as an Important Area for Bat Conservation (AICOM) by the Latin American and Caribbean Network for Bat Conservation (RELCOM)

- Research activities on natural history, distribution, and ecology of the species

- Development and implementation of educational programs in a local school in the town of Lita

 

The next step for this species is to continue monitoring the population in the tunnels. Also, to make Lita's AICOM officially part of the "special protected areas", as stipulated in the Environmetal Regulation. We also inted to continue with educational campaigns to reinforce the importance of bat conservation.

 

Project documents

• Photos that could not be uploaded in the "Species Photos" module.
• Photos that could not be uploaded in the "Species Photos" module.
• Template used with children in the Lita community to make crafts of bats as part of the educational campaign.
• Proposal to declare Lita Tunnels as AICOM (Area of Bat Conservation Importance) by the Latin American and Caribbean Bat Conservation Network
• Draft of article to be sent to the RELCOM Bat Conservation Bulletin




Project 162514219 location - Ecuador, South America