GOS-UNDP-GEF Sheath-tailed bat Small Grants Programme Project
Project Overview
The Silhouette Foundation (SF) is a national registered non-governmental organization composed of multiple partners that bring together a diverse group of interests and expertise. Their aim is to promote the conservation, rehabilitation and enhancement of Silhouette, in harmony with sustainable low impact human development and eco-tourism. The SF board of trustees meet at least-twice annually, and the island’s Sheath-tailed bat is always high on the agenda.
The Sheath-tailed bat (Coleura seychellensis) is a Seychelles endemic that remains the rarest bat species and one of the rarest mammals in the world, listed as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List. The population is showing no signs of recovery, and currently hovers at ~65 extant individuals, split between three roosts on Mahe, and one larger, solitary roost on Silhouette. This project aims to increase nation-wide awareness of the Sheath-tailed bat and its extinction risk through community outreach, education, and awareness raising activities on Silhouette and Mahe, and to enhance in-country research and conservation expertise on this species. As such, this is a capacity building project that fits with the ‘conservation of biodiversity’ GEF SPG focal area and Seychelles National Sheath-tailed bat Species Conservation Action Plan 2013. The main project activities center on the development and implementation of a suite of educational programs and attention-grabbing outreach activities that will raise awareness of, engender support for, and promote the conservation of the Sheath-tailed bat. Notably, these include a ‘Save the Sheath-tailed bat Night’ community day on Silhouette, and an educational Sheath-tailed bat roadshow that will tour around schools and public hot spots on Mahe. In addition, state-of-the-art acoustic and video surveillance equipment will be acquired, coupled with expert training that will be take the form of a national workshop - to spread the project benefits across other in-country conservation practitioners, building national capacity and expertise.
The project will sensitize over 1,000 primary and secondary school children and thousands more Seychellois residents to the fragility of this species. Data elicited through a before and after survey (the first phase of which has already been completed) will provide a statistically valid indication of project success. Other indicators will include the number of person-weeks of training administered, and the production of a new training manual outlining best practices for Sheath-tailed bat conservation efforts in Seychelles. By its very nature, the project will attract media attention, and considerable media outputs (TV, radio, press articles etc.) will further indicate project success and simultaneously allow the project to reach a wider audience (indirect sensitization through reading / hearing about the project activities). This project will also make the general public more aware of their actions and behaviours as concerns the potentially harmful impacts (to bat environment and species viability) related to pesticides use, bat foraging and roosting habitat disturbance/destruction, and other human related impacts recognized as being responsible for the decline in bat populations in Seychelles. Increased awareness in the general public will result in more people supporting legislative changes proposed by Government representatives (appointed or elected) aimed at saving this emblematic species from extinction. The project started in 2014 and will end in June 2016.
The Sheath-tailed bat (Coleura seychellensis) is a Seychelles endemic that remains the rarest bat species and one of the rarest mammals in the world, listed as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List. The population is showing no signs of recovery, and currently hovers at ~65 extant individuals, split between three roosts on Mahe, and one larger, solitary roost on Silhouette. This project aims to increase nation-wide awareness of the Sheath-tailed bat and its extinction risk through community outreach, education, and awareness raising activities on Silhouette and Mahe, and to enhance in-country research and conservation expertise on this species. As such, this is a capacity building project that fits with the ‘conservation of biodiversity’ GEF SPG focal area and Seychelles National Sheath-tailed bat Species Conservation Action Plan 2013. The main project activities center on the development and implementation of a suite of educational programs and attention-grabbing outreach activities that will raise awareness of, engender support for, and promote the conservation of the Sheath-tailed bat. Notably, these include a ‘Save the Sheath-tailed bat Night’ community day on Silhouette, and an educational Sheath-tailed bat roadshow that will tour around schools and public hot spots on Mahe. In addition, state-of-the-art acoustic and video surveillance equipment will be acquired, coupled with expert training that will be take the form of a national workshop - to spread the project benefits across other in-country conservation practitioners, building national capacity and expertise.
The project will sensitize over 1,000 primary and secondary school children and thousands more Seychellois residents to the fragility of this species. Data elicited through a before and after survey (the first phase of which has already been completed) will provide a statistically valid indication of project success. Other indicators will include the number of person-weeks of training administered, and the production of a new training manual outlining best practices for Sheath-tailed bat conservation efforts in Seychelles. By its very nature, the project will attract media attention, and considerable media outputs (TV, radio, press articles etc.) will further indicate project success and simultaneously allow the project to reach a wider audience (indirect sensitization through reading / hearing about the project activities). This project will also make the general public more aware of their actions and behaviours as concerns the potentially harmful impacts (to bat environment and species viability) related to pesticides use, bat foraging and roosting habitat disturbance/destruction, and other human related impacts recognized as being responsible for the decline in bat populations in Seychelles. Increased awareness in the general public will result in more people supporting legislative changes proposed by Government representatives (appointed or elected) aimed at saving this emblematic species from extinction. The project started in 2014 and will end in June 2016.
Latest NEWS
The Seychelles Sheath-tailed bat: a unique but unknown jewel of Seychelles.
By Francois Baguette (Silhouette Conservation Officer)
Seychelles are known worldwide for its astonishing beaches, blue sky, and exotic culture. But it’s also known for its great nature, still pristine in many places, and hosting an incredibly high number of endemic species, found nowhere else in the world. A lot of these are amphibians, reptiles and plants but many people forget about the mammals. Indeed, mammals on islands are most of the time exotic species brought by humans’ settlements and tend to destroy the native biodiversity. Yet, Seychelles boasts two-both bats, endemic mammals, with one in critical danger...
The first one, the Seychelles Flying Fox, is commonly seen and heard, flying by day as well as by night. It is called by the scientists a megabat, as it can reach 500gr and 1.10m in wingspan. The Seychelles Flying Fox is widespread on all the granitic islands in Seychelles and eat only fruits.
The second one is a very special and unique species of microbat, the Seychelles Sheath-tailed Bat, or Sousouri Bannann in Creole. Once common across the inner granitic islands of the Seychelles, the endemic Seychelles Sheath-tailed Bat Coleura seychellensis is now critically endangered, currently known from only four roosts on Silhouette and Mahe islands.
Like any other islander species, the Seychelles Sheath-tailed bat is extremely vulnerable to exotic predators, disturbance, and of course pesticides. Because it lives preferably in coastal areas, where human impact is the highest, these factors have had a huge impact on these tiny creatures and today, the total population numbers less than one hundred bats, making this species the rarest in the world and in grave danger of extinction. The Seychelles Government recognised the importance of this unique bat with protected species legislation in 2014.
To raise awareness and understanding of the species and promote interest in further research and monitoring, ICS in conjunction with the government of Seychelles, UNDP, GEF Small Grants Programme and Silhouette Foundation hosted its first "Save Our Seychelles Sheath-tailed Bat Night".
The evening, hosted by Hilton Labriz Resort & Spa on Silhouette Island, launched the "Bats of Seychelles" Educational Toolkit to be distributed throughout primary and secondary schools, with presentations, a documentary film and interactive activities to raise awareness and promote conservation action for this tiny, unique and critically endangered species. Guests then enthusiastically joined the ICS Rangers on a Wildlife Nightwalk to learn more about the Seychelles Sheath-tailed Bat and its habitat. Further events will be held on Mahé and beyond in coming months. Many thanks to Dr Rachel Bristol, Gen Berry, the staff of ICS, IDC and Hilton Labriz Resort & Spa for making this event such a great success.
In addition to this, more and more research is being done to understand better this emblematic species of Seychelles, with a close monitoring of the remaining population to try to save it from extinction. On Mahé and Silhouette, volunteers, scientists, and ICS staffs work hard to try to find new roosts, new feeding areas, and help restoring the forest to try to boost the population.
Unfortunately, Extinction Is Forever! Everyone knows the sad story of the Dodo from Mauritius, or more recently the West African Black Rhinoceros, officially declared extinct in 2011. The Seychelles Sheath-tailed bat still exists, fighting for its survival. Anyone can help protecting this amazing species by reducing the use of pesticides, not disturbing roosts, and keeping the forest clean. If you wish to know more about the species or if you think you know the location of a Sheath-tailed bat roost, please contact ICS on 4375354 or science@ics.sc.
The first one, the Seychelles Flying Fox, is commonly seen and heard, flying by day as well as by night. It is called by the scientists a megabat, as it can reach 500gr and 1.10m in wingspan. The Seychelles Flying Fox is widespread on all the granitic islands in Seychelles and eat only fruits.
The second one is a very special and unique species of microbat, the Seychelles Sheath-tailed Bat, or Sousouri Bannann in Creole. Once common across the inner granitic islands of the Seychelles, the endemic Seychelles Sheath-tailed Bat Coleura seychellensis is now critically endangered, currently known from only four roosts on Silhouette and Mahe islands.
Like any other islander species, the Seychelles Sheath-tailed bat is extremely vulnerable to exotic predators, disturbance, and of course pesticides. Because it lives preferably in coastal areas, where human impact is the highest, these factors have had a huge impact on these tiny creatures and today, the total population numbers less than one hundred bats, making this species the rarest in the world and in grave danger of extinction. The Seychelles Government recognised the importance of this unique bat with protected species legislation in 2014.
To raise awareness and understanding of the species and promote interest in further research and monitoring, ICS in conjunction with the government of Seychelles, UNDP, GEF Small Grants Programme and Silhouette Foundation hosted its first "Save Our Seychelles Sheath-tailed Bat Night".
The evening, hosted by Hilton Labriz Resort & Spa on Silhouette Island, launched the "Bats of Seychelles" Educational Toolkit to be distributed throughout primary and secondary schools, with presentations, a documentary film and interactive activities to raise awareness and promote conservation action for this tiny, unique and critically endangered species. Guests then enthusiastically joined the ICS Rangers on a Wildlife Nightwalk to learn more about the Seychelles Sheath-tailed Bat and its habitat. Further events will be held on Mahé and beyond in coming months. Many thanks to Dr Rachel Bristol, Gen Berry, the staff of ICS, IDC and Hilton Labriz Resort & Spa for making this event such a great success.
In addition to this, more and more research is being done to understand better this emblematic species of Seychelles, with a close monitoring of the remaining population to try to save it from extinction. On Mahé and Silhouette, volunteers, scientists, and ICS staffs work hard to try to find new roosts, new feeding areas, and help restoring the forest to try to boost the population.
Unfortunately, Extinction Is Forever! Everyone knows the sad story of the Dodo from Mauritius, or more recently the West African Black Rhinoceros, officially declared extinct in 2011. The Seychelles Sheath-tailed bat still exists, fighting for its survival. Anyone can help protecting this amazing species by reducing the use of pesticides, not disturbing roosts, and keeping the forest clean. If you wish to know more about the species or if you think you know the location of a Sheath-tailed bat roost, please contact ICS on 4375354 or science@ics.sc.
