Germany inhabits 25 species of bats, eight of which are considered endangered or critically endangered according to the IUCN Red List. The decline in their population relies on a multi-layered issue: elimination of flight corridors due to artificial light, fatalities due to wind turbines, and the lack of deadwood, hence the absence of suitable habitat. All bat species occurring in Germany rely on an insectivorous diet and consume insects up to 30% of their body weight each night, including pests; bats play an essential role in the ecosystem in controlling the pest population.

The Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW) in Berlin leads multiple research projects on bat conservation. In July 2022, I accompanied scientists from the IZW during their field study in Doberlug-Kirchhain and Trübitz for the pilot project “Lichtweg“, in which they investigate how artificial lighting affects the local population of the brown long-eared bat (Plecotus auritus). Dr. Christine Reusch and Dr. Carolin Scholz led the research project and collected data about flight corridors used by bats. According to their findings, they analyze whether alternatives in the long term can replace artificial light as a conservation measurement.

Moreover, in September 2022, I documented another research project by the IZW, which collects data about bat fatalities at wind farms in the Brandenburg region. Their latest study proved that over 200 bats died from wind turbines during their migration phase in two months of field studies at the studied wind park. Found as carcasses at the wind park, the bat fatalities are being autopsied to identify the death cause.

While bats are threatened due to various dangers, organizations and volunteers fight for a stable population of flying animals. In August 2021, I accompanied a conservation project by the Office for Agriculture and Forests (AfLF) in Ebersberg, maintaining habitat for local bats while creating a bridge between conservation and economy. This conservation project establishes a permanent habitat and compensates for the lack of natural roosts. With the help of volunteers, the organization can keep the bat houses clean and collect data on any found tracks.