BACKGROUND

North East India (NEI) being a Biodiversity Hot Spot has tremendous diversity of life forms. There are 62 bat species in NEI, out of that 27 are sharing their habitat in Assam(Sinha,1999). But all these data are basing upon one or two random records. Knowledge about the usefulness of bat fauna and their research is very poor in this biodiversity rich area. Hundreds of bat individuals are killed for their meat, medicinal use (e.g. Cure Asthma) and for spiritual purposes. On the other hand, due to large-scale deforestation, destruction of natural caves from hills and for mining practices bat habitats are dwindling rapidly from this area along with other life forms (Ali, pers.comm.). Looking at the above facts “Bat Conservation Wing (BCW)” a chiroptera research and conservation division of AARANYAK was formed in the year 2004 under the leadership of Md. Azad Ali, a pioneer bat researcher of Assam.

OBJECTIVES

1. To conserve the bat diversity of North East India through research, conservation and advocacy.
2. To conduct quality scientific research on chiropteran fauna of NEI with special reference to Taxonomy, Ecology, Ethology and Natural History.
3. To highlight the economic importance of bats through awareness & education to minimize the Human-Bat Conflicts & Myths.
4. To form a Bat Conservation Network for North East India and link the same nationally and globally.

Plans for next five years (2005-2009)

1. Conservation, Education and Awareness pragrammes will be conducted at Schools, Colleges and public places.
2. Identification & Mapping of bat roosting sites of Brahmaputra Valley of Assam.
3. Conduct workshop cum training programmes for young, interested Bat Lovers of North East India.

© Aaranyak 2001-2006, Email:info@aaranyak.org