Tracking bats in the wild / Fletcher, C. D.

Bats (Order: Chiroptera) are very mysterious mammals mostly because of their inconspicuous nocturnal behaviour, a major cause in the lack of detailed information of their ecological behaviour in the wild. Today, their very existence is at risk of extinction in many parts of the world, deforestation often being its major contributing factor. Extensive and exhausting studies have been carried out to locate these bats in order to observe and study their needs for survival. Among the more recent and effective methods used is radio telemetry. Although this method of tracking animals has been used before in Malaysia to study the home ranges of turtles, elephants, tigers, birds etc., it is relatively young in bat studies and modifications are needed. Recent research using radio telemetry methods have proved advantageous in tracking bats. particularly in dense Malaysian forests, as presented in this paper.