Bats are a critical part of many ecosystems in southern Africa. From an environmental and economic perspective, they play an important role by eating harmful insects (eg. mosquitoes and crop pests) and pollinating plants. This positive role that bats play is however, largely misunderstood. As a result of superstition, fear and negative perception, many bat species are threatened by poisoning and habitat destruction.

Bats are considered to be a pest species by many homeowners, as they can be noisy and their faeces and urine can stain walls and floors and create an unpleasant smell. A dire need therefore exists to assist landowners in either removing bats in an environmentally-friendly manner, or in teaching them how to co-exist with this important group of mammals.

There are over 50 bat species in South Africa and over 70 throughout the southern African region. The insect-eating Yellow House Bat (Scotophilus dinganii) and Cape Serotine Bat (Pipistrellus capensis) are commonly found in and around Johannesburg and Pretoria.

There is little to no protective legislation for bats in South Africa. Currently, only two species are formally protected, despite 10 species being listed as threatened with extinction in South Africa’s National Red Data Book. The Short-eared Trident Bat (Cleotis percivali) and Rendall’s Serotine Bat (Neoromicia rendalli) are both listed as critically endangered.

The Endangered Wildlife Trust’s Bat Conservation Group (BCG) aims to implement bat conservation action, research and education and awareness programmes. The BCG also provides input with regards to legislation and policy formation. The BCG therefore provides a forum for implementing activities which will result in conserving bats and their habitats, primarily by increasing awareness of their value to rural and urban communities regionally.