Fewer and fewer bats
A recent census of the bat population in the Międzyrzecze undergrounds has just concluded and according to the preliminary data, their numbers have dropped once again. In the past three years their population has now decreased by approximately 10 thousand.
The initial figures this year recorded 27 215 bats, which is 4000 less than the previous year. In comparison to the record numbers of 37,500 (tallied in 2008) it is a decrease of over 10 000 specimens. Dr Tomasz Kokurewicz – the action coordinator, says that chiropterologists are very concerned. The international bat count in the area of Natura 2000 “Nietoperek”, which was organized for the tenth time, shows the downward trend is continuing.
Additionally, during this year’s count there were 204 dead bats found. They were brutally killed by vandals. Their wings were broken and they were decapitated. An application form is being prepared for the attorney’s office because this is a criminal act and subject to imprisonment of up to three years.
