Final Report

We have now completed all our surveys, covering both winter and summer periods. We studied 33 caves and recorded 37,000 bats representing 13 species. 24 of these caves were studied for the first time. Eight species (R. euryale, R. ferrumequinum, R. hipposideros, M. schreibersii, M. myotis, M. blythi, M. capaccinii and M. emarginatus) were present in large numbers, whereas the other five species (R. meheyli, M. daubentonii, M. mystacinus, M. bechsteinii, and P. austriacus) were represented by only a few individuals. There were very distinct differences between our summer and winter counts, so we assume that there were underground roosts that we did not find.

The Dupnisa cave system provides shelter for nearly 30,000 bats representing five species, and is one of the biggest hibernaculum in southeastern Europe. Unfortunately its popularity among cavers and local visitors provides a serious threat for the bats' survival. We believe that public access should be denied at least during winter months. The Koyunbaba cave is the largest nursery in the region, hosting in summer almost 23,000 bats of 6 species, in mixed nursery colonies. However a nearby quarry is a major threat to this cave which needs immediate protection to guard against its destruction.

Three of the caves we studied need further research before we can made firm recommendations about their conservation status, although we suspect that they may be internationally important.

We hope that our findings will provide a base for the creation of an effective conservation program for bats and their habitats. We will do our best to secure the right conservation status for the most important roosts and to ensure continuous monitoring of the main colonies. But we fear that unless more effort is directed toward protecting bats in the region, fast human population growth and associated urbanisation will outpace any conservation efforts.