Implementation period: 01/02/2026–30/11/2026
 |
| Mist-netted Rhinolophus ferrumequinum—a priority species for the project. |
Project description
Climate change and human activities are putting pressure on our ecosystems. A new conservation project is stepping up to protect the rarest and most vulnerable bat species living in four key biodiversity hotspots along the Danube and Morava rivers.
Priority bat species
Rhinolophus ferrumequinum - Greater Horseshoe Bat
Rhinolophus euryale - Mediterranean Horseshoe Bat
Rhinolophus hipposideros - Lesser Horseshoe Bat
Nyctalus lasiopterus - Greater Noctule Bat
Miniopterus schreibersii - Schreibers' Bent-winged Bat
Myotis blythii - Lesser Mouse-eared Bat
The project focuses on four warm-climate biodiversity hotspots—Pálava, Devínska Kobyla, Burda, and the Visegrád Mountains—which serve as rare Mediterranean-style refuges for six vulnerable bat species in the Visegrad region. These areas are critical hubs for connectivity along the Danube and Morava rivers, yet current conservation efforts are hindered by sporadic and incomplete data. While local inhabitants recognize some flagship flora and fauna, the presence of these rare bats remains largely unknown to the public. Recent reintroduction programs and high species mobility have led to these bats being re-recorded in the area after decades of absence, creating an urgent need for updated research. Identifying specific roosting and foraging sites is now essential for developing a functional conservation plan and directing protection to key localities. To address this, the project will deploy permanent audio recorders to capture especially the faint, high-frequency calls of horseshoe bats that traditional monitoring often misses. These stationary devices will record continuously for months, supplemented by regular mist-netting to provide a robust and comprehensive dataset. All findings will be integrated into the GBIF international database, ensuring the information supports global scientific research and data infrastructure. Beyond technical monitoring, the project will collaborate directly with local residents to identify maternal colonies within settlements. By sharing these discoveries, the project aims to transform these lesser-known bats into a source of local community pride and awareness. Building on the previous "Help Bats in V4" initiative, the project combines advanced acoustic science with public education to ensure long-term survival for these rare species. Ultimately, this work will create more valuable biodiversity sites by bridging the gap between scientific data and community engagement.
This project was supported by the International Visegrad Fund.
How Will the Research Work?
Some bats, like the horseshoe bat, are incredibly difficult to track because their calls are very faint. To find them, the team will use a combination of traditional and high-tech methods:
Stationary Audio Recorders: These devices will be placed in the wild to record bat calls continuously for months, capturing data that humans might miss.
Mist-Netting: Researchers will conduct safe, temporary captures in the field to gather detailed information.
Global Data Sharing: All findings will be uploaded to GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility), making this vital information available to scientists worldwide.
Why This Matters for Local Communities
While the Danube and Morava regions are famous for their nature, bats often remain "hidden" stars of the ecosystem. This project aims to change that:
Community Involvement: Scientists will work directly with residents to identify "maternity colonies"—places where mother bats raise their pups—right in local settlements.
Education and Pride: Building on the success of the "Help Bats in V4" project, there will be presentations for children and guided field trips for the public.
Nature Conservation: Protecting these bats helps keep the entire ecosystem healthy, making the region an even more valuable and beautiful place to live.
Partners
Saola - ochrana prírody - slovak non-governmental organization focused on the nature conservation and research activities, which help to improve the species conservation status. All year activity is aimed on the education of families and children, monitoring of bats and birds. Based on the previous project experiences, Saola prepares and realizes nature conservation projects especially on the local and regional level.
Institute of vertebrate biology - the origin of the Institute dates back to the beginning of 1953, when the Laboratory of Vertebrate Zoology of the newly formed Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences was established in Brno. From the very beginning the institution was rather small, but active and efficient. In the first decades of its existence, basic research on the biology of fishes, birds and mammals developer and, in the 1960s and 70s, the Institute was among the leading institutions in this field, both in former Czechoslovakia and abroad. The Institute has offered employment and support to hundreds of zoologists with a deep interest in the study of animals, their lives and their natural history.
Vénic Természetvédelmi és Természetismereti Alapítvány - hungarian non-governmental organization, focused on the nature conservation in the area Pilis and Visegrad mountains. Vénic Nature Conservation Foundation operates from February 2006. The membership of the Board of Trustees includes 3 persons as active center of the membership. Our programs were mostly volunteered by high school students and university students (cca. 5-10 people what depends on the season). The mission is composed of the floristic, fauna and ecological surveys carried out in the areas of natural, but legal and non-protected areas in Hungary, especially in Natura 2000 areas. Within the framework of our public interest the aim is to know the biodiversity of natural sites of our surroundings and to get much more information about those still unknown areas. The target groups are mainly younger generations as students who interested on our biological diversity and the nature conservation.