In News:

Wroughton’s free-tailed bat, a highly rare species of molossus bat, has been spotted at the Delhi Development Authority (DDA)’s Yamuna Biodiversity Park, marking a unique sighting.

Key Highlights:

• Species Overview: Wroughton’s free-tailed bat (Otomops wroughtoni) is a rare species of molossus bat, notable for its powerful flight and ecological importance in controlling insect populations and assisting in pollination.
• Conservation Status:

• IUCN: Listed as "Data Deficient".
• Protection: Listed under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

• Geographical Distribution:
  • Primarily found in the Western Ghats, with a single known breeding colony.
  • Small colonies in Jaintia Hills, Meghalaya, and a solitary individual sighted in Cambodia.
• Physical Characteristics:

• Large in size, with huge ears extending beyond the muzzle.
• Bicoloured velvet fur.
• Noted for powerful flying capabilities, enabling long-distance foraging.

• Ecological Role:

• Regulates insect populations.
• Known for assisting in pollination.

• Habitat:

• Roosts in caves, or dark, damp, and slightly warm places, typically in moderate-sized colonies.

• Significance of the Delhi Sighting:

• The sighting at Yamuna Biodiversity Park is significant for Delhi, marking a rare occurrence in the region.
• Delhi's bat species: The city is home to about 14 bat species, with four species, including the Indian false vampire and Egyptian free-tailed bat, considered locally extinct.

• Conservation Efforts:

• Two decades of ecological restoration have created specialized niches in the area, aiding species rewilding and ecological balance.
• The Aravalli Biodiversity Park in Gurugram now serves as the only known roosting site for the Blyth’s horseshoe bat in Delhi NCR.

• Additional Notes:

• Wroughton’s free-tailed bat was considered critically endangered until 2000 due to its limited known population. However, the discovery of populations in other regions has led to a reclassification to "Data Deficient".
• Despite being discovered over a century ago, much about the bat's feeding ecology remains unknown.