Research
Past Research
Population assessment and conservation of Pohle’s fruit bat in the Eastern Region of Ghana
The Upper Guinean forest of Ghana is among the most important biodiversity hotspots in the world, but has hugely been devastated through human activities such as logging, farming and mining. However, the home of numerous endemic and unique species of high conservation value. Among them is Scotonycteris ophiodon (Pohle’s fruit bat) which is known from only five countries including Ghana. In 2010, the IUCN listed it as near threatened but close to qualifying as vulnerable based on its high degree of susceptibility to habitat degradation and significant population. Aside habitat degradation threatening their survival, the Eastern region where this species was last recorded are lovers of bat meat, a situation demanding urgent conservation attention. This project focuses attention on assessing the remaining population of Scotonycteris ophiodon in the Atewa Forest in the Eastern Region. The project will also embark on community education in rural communities to prevent bat hunting. Lastly, the project hopes to involve local communities in restoring degraded parts of the forest and bring all major stakeholders to dialogue to seek the protection of bats in the area.
Cave Bats Crisis; Conserving the Threatened West African Endemic Hipposideros jonesi in Ghana
The project aims at identifying and halting human activities that threaten the survival of Hipposideros jonesi and all bat species roosting inside Forikrom bat cave. The project also seeks to estimate the population of Hipposideros jonesi in Forikrom to provide conservation and management insights into activities that directly seek their protection at the local and national level.
Hipposideros jonesi is an insectivorous bat endemic to the West African region. In 2008, it was listed as a threatened species by IUCN. It is not known if this species is present in any Protected Area. In addition, their population is rapidly declining making it a vulnerable species. In Ghana where the largest population were hosted when it was described about six decades ago, their population have declined dramatically. The main cause of their decline and major threats to their survival is not yet known. In Ghana however, bat meat is a delicacy in most rural and urban communities. Considering its small size, it is not known if hunters and children alike extract this species for meat since bat hunting in caves is a common practice in some communities in Ghana.
Ensuring the survival and continuous persistence of the remaining population of Hipposideros jonesi constitute a high conservation priority. This project therefore aims to achieve this through conservation education of the rural communities that live close to the bat caves. Forikrom is a farming community in the Techiman District in Brong Ahafo region of Ghana where this species has recently been recorded. The project is also engaging in questionnaire administration and population studies to provide insights into conservation and management activities both at the local and national level. Through conservation education and awareness campaigns, we hope to seek cooperate involvement of the people in the protection of bats and the caves they inhabit. This will ultimately create a supportive society where humans can comfortably live with bats.
It is our expectation that all human activities that threaten the survival of Hipposideros jonesi at the Forikrom bat cave will be halted on completion of the project. Furthermore conservation measures would be put in place to ensure the continuous survival of all the bats roosting inside the cave. We also expect that results from the population and social research will provide insights into conservation and management policies to achieve direct protection of this species in Ghana.
Population assessment and conservation of Pohle’s fruit bat in the Eastern Region of Ghana
The Upper Guinean forest of Ghana is among the most important biodiversity hotspots in the world, but has hugely been devastated through human activities such as logging, farming and mining. However, the home of numerous endemic and unique species of high conservation value. Among them is Scotonycteris ophiodon (Pohle’s fruit bat) which is known from only five countries including Ghana. In 2010, the IUCN listed it as near threatened but close to qualifying as vulnerable based on its high degree of susceptibility to habitat degradation and significant population. Aside habitat degradation threatening their survival, the Eastern region where this species was last recorded are lovers of bat meat, a situation demanding urgent conservation attention. This project focuses attention on assessing the remaining population of Scotonycteris ophiodon in the Atewa Forest in the Eastern Region. The project will also embark on community education in rural communities to prevent bat hunting. Lastly, the project hopes to involve local communities in restoring degraded parts of the forest and bring all major stakeholders to dialogue to seek the protection of bats in the area.
Ecology and conservation of Robbin’s house bat (Scotophilus nucella) in Ghana
Mmem village is a legally resident community inside the Krokosua hill forest reserve in Ghana. This village is a farming community cultivating mostly cocoa. The Krokosua forest is a biodiversity hotspot designated as a Globally Significant Biodiversity Area (GSBA) but under serious threat from illegal chain saw and farming activities. The forest is however the home of numerous wildlife species including bats. In Mmem village, several bat colonies (mostly Scotophilus species) roost on coconut trees. The village also host a very rare synanthropic bat, the Robbin’s house bat (Scotophilus nucella). Bats however form an integral part in the diet of this community. Roost disturbance is also a major challenge for bats in this community and several colonies are displaced when the coconut is to be harvested. To combat this challenge, the project will provide alternative roosting by providing bat boxes to increase the roosting opportunities for these bats. The project also seek to understand all human interactions with bats in this village. This will assist determine drivers behind bat hunting, hunting patterns and all human activities that threaten bats and develop effective conservation programmes to address the situation. Lastly the project will conduct conservation and education programmes in the village to sensitize the community about the need to conserve and protect the bats and the forest. Through these proposed activities, the project promises to contribute meaningfully to bat conservation in Ghana.
Foraging Ecology and Conservation of Robbin’s House Bat in Ghana
This project is about the conservation of a Data Deficient bat, Robbins’ house bat (Scotophilus nucella). Historically, the species was first recorded in 1967 at Nkawkaw in Ghana, and later described in 1983. It is currently known to occur in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire, as records from Eastern Africa have been challenged. The total number of individuals known to science is less than 100.
Presently in Ghana, the species is known in the Krokosua Hill Forest Reserve and the Pra-Anum Forest Reserve. As a species with strong affinity to forest environments, deforestation and habitat modification severely impact their population. At Pra-Anum Forest Reserve where the species was recently recorded, illegal mining and logging activities, farming encroachment, and invasive plant species are reducing the quality available habitats for the species. It is imperative that we study the population of Scotophilus nucella in this forest and surrounding vegetation to understand their habitats needs for consideration in management plans and conservation decisions.
Our primary goal for implementing this project is to contribute to the conservation of Scotophilus nucella at the national and global level. Specifically, we want to understand the species foraging ecology, and to gain conservation support at Amantia for community-level bat conservation initiatives towards their protection and conservation. To achieve these objectives, the project is embarking on mist-netting and acoustic surveys in the forest to help understand habitats and prey items selected whiles foraging. The project will embark on community education at Amantia to gather support for the species conservation. An important aspect of this project is capacity building geared towards the training of university students and citizen scientists at Amantia in bat acoustic monitoring and field experimentation.
The project is expected to achieve the following upon completion: 1) A complete checklist of bats in the Pra-Anum Forest reserve provided, 2) Important foraging habitats of Scotophilus nucella at Amantia identified, 3) Prey items consumed by Scotophilus nucella identified, 4) Conservation awareness generated at Amantia for species conservation, 5) Citizen Scientist and University students trained in bat field experimentation.
Ongoing Research
Empowering Local Communities for the Conservation of the Robbins House Bat in Ghana
The Robbins’ house bat is a tropical rainforest species that is categorized as Data Deficient by the IUCN. Currently, it is known to inhabit Ghana and Ivory Coast, with Ghana hosting nearly 95% of the recorded individuals. However, this species faces imminent threats from habitat loss due to deforestation and illegal activities within Ghana’s Forest Reserve, particularly at Pra-Anum Forest Reserve.
This project addresses these urgent threats by empowering local communities to actively participate in the conservation of the Robbins’ house bat. Through a series of targeted activities, community members will be equipped with the knowledge and tools necessary to monitor bat populations and advocate for their protection. Citizen science training programs will transform local residents into ambassadors for bat conservation. They will collect data on bat populations using bat detectors such as audiomoths, contributing valuable scientific data. The project will also increase in-country bat expertise by providing hands-on training to university students in bat research and conservation.
Beyond monitoring, the project emphasizes habitat restoration by aiming to plant 2,000 trees, directly addressing habitat degradation and creating a more sustainable environment for the bat populations. Educational campaigns will raise awareness about the vital role bats play in the ecosystem, dispelling negative perceptions and encouraging a culture of appreciation among the young and adult alike in the region.
The anticipated outcomes of this project are multi-faceted. The project will create a future where local communities actively champion the conservation of the Robbins’ house bat. By educating and empowering them with knowledge, the project creates a sense of community responsibility for biodiversity conservation, particularly for bats and secure their long-term survival. Additionally, the project will generate valuable scientific data on bat populations within the Pra-Anum Forest Reserve, contributing to a broader understanding of its ecology. Ultimately, the success of the project lies in its ability to enhance community participation in biodiversity conservation, particularly the Robbins’ house bat, advancing a future where both humans and bats can thrive.
Exceptional service! This company goes above and beyond to meet their customers\’ needs. I couldn\’t be happier with the results.
Jordan Smith