Recent News
Dec 2007, Bat Conservation and awareness program lunched
Bat Conservation and awareness program was lunched through Radio Annapurna
93.4 MHZ on Program Samrakchan (Conservation) for three weeks starting from
December 1st to 15th .The Program was broadcast on every Saturday from
5:40 P.M to 5:55 P.M.
The program was targeted to all including child, adult, Intellectual circles, Students, Office workers, Female, Business people…Overall information disseminated to the local community was respectively
as follows
What are bats? Where are bats found? How does a bat look? How big? How small? What colours? Home of bats,
Eyes and Ears, Hibernation, Migration, Reproduction, Kinds of bats, Importance of bats, Ecology, Threats, Hunting and trade,
Species in trade, Bats in legislation and Red List, CITES Listed Bats, Myths about bats, Myths Reality, What can we do for the conservation of bats, Bat boxes and bat house, Bats as pets and so on. Based on the fact sheet published by Radio Annapurna 93.4 MHZ
the coverage area includes three large zones mainly Lumbini, Gandaki and Dhaulagiri of which following areas were covered Kaski, Pokhara, Lekhnath, Tanahu, Damauli, Nawalparasi, Gaidakot, Tandi, Kawasoti, Chitwan,
Bharatpur, Gunjanagar, Tiger top, Mugling, Manakamana, Manang, Gorkha, Lamjung, Tanahu, Dumre, Bandipur, Besisahar, Syanja,
Myagdi, Parbat, Baglung, Palpa, Argakhachi, Gulmi, Makwanpur, Dhading. And approximate listeners who were directly and indirectly
covered ranges from 3.2 to 5.2 million. The Bat friends committee would like to thank Mr. R. J Sarad Paudyal for his volunteer support and Radio Annapurna 93.4 MHZ for broadcasting important information regarding bats to the local community and acting as a responsible stakeholder in the field of biodiversity conservation. This information was taken from “Guidelines
for an Education Programme on Just Bats about Bats” Concept Design by
Sally Walker and was translated into Nepali language by Bat Friends committee members.
And same information is also broadcast through next radio ere not covered by previous radio .You can listen the program from Rupendehi F.M 102 MHZ on every Thursday
from 6:15
June,2007
One Day Training and Awareness Program organized in Bindabassini H. S. School
A one day training and awareness program on bat conservation was conducted successfully on 23rd
of July 2007. Altogether 40 students of Bindabassini Higher
Secondary School, Pokhara, from classes 8, 9, 10 and members of junior bat club
participated the program. This school is run by the money raised from tourist and is a famous tourist destination especially
for bat watching. The program was conducted under the coordination of Mohan K. C. the executive member of the Bats Friends
Pokhara unit. Six trainers, B Sc students of Institute of Forestry,
Pokhara campus, provided the training. The overall objective of the program was to provide the basic knowledge, create understanding and generate interest among school students
about the roles and importance of bats in the ecosystem. This program also aimed to train the students on basic techniques
about the bat counting and capturing.
2008 New Co ordination Committee on Bat Friends Club
The Executive committee for the year 2008/2009
has been changed from July 2008. This committee will last for one year.
Following are the Committee members of the Bat Friends Club in Institute of Forestry.
Co-ordinator
Mr.Nirojman Shrestha
Secretary
Mr. Mohan K.C.
Treasurer
Mr. Smita Das
Advisors
for this club are Mr. Sujas Phuyal (Bat Researcher, B. Sc. Forestry), Pushpa Raj Acharya (Bat Researcher, M. Sc. Zoology),
Shree Prasad Dhaubhadel (Asst. Professor, Department of Park Recreation and Wildlife, IoF) and Raj Kumar Koirala (Lecturer,
Department head, Department of Park Recreation and Wildlife) and Mr. Rajesh Rajchal (M.Sc Former Coordinator)
June, 2007
Trimonthly wall
magazine issue of June-August 2007 has been published in Institute of Forestry, Pokhara Campus, and Pokhara. This magazine
contains special information about Introduction, distribution, taxonomy, physical features, habitat, food and feeding, distribution,
longevity, sexing, reproduction, communication/perception, status in the world, status in Nepal and facts about Bats and Rodents.
June, 2007 Field Techniques
for Research and Conservation of Volant and Non Volant Small Mammals
Members of Bat Friends, Mr. Rajesh Rajchal, Mr. Kishor Ojha, Mr. Hari Adhikari, Mr. Prakash S. Thapa, Mrs. Jyoti Bhandari,
Ms. Binita Shahi, Mr. Niroj Man Shrestha, and Mr. Mohan K.C attended the training "Field Techniques for Research and Conservation
of Volant and Non Volant Small Mammals" from June 19-24, 2007 which was organized at Nepal Administrative Staff College, Jawalakhel,
Kathmandu and Institute of Forestry, Pokhara. The program was organized by ZOO Outreach organization and Wildlife Information
Liaison Development Society, India and hosted by NATURE/ Kathmandu, Institute of Forestry/Pokhara, Bat Friends/ Pokhara, Nepal
in Collaboration with CBSG South Asia, RSG South Asia, CCINSA and RILSCINSA and sponsored by Bat Conservation International
USA, Chester Zoo UK, Knowsley Safari Park U.K. The resource people for the whole program were Dr. Paul Racey (Chair, IUCN/SSC
Chiroptera Specialist Group. University of Aberdeen, Scotland), Dr. Mike Jordan (Chair, IUCN/ SSC Reintroduction Specialist
Group/ Europe and N. Asia. Chester Zoological Gardens, UK), Dr. Sripathi Kandula, Scientific Chair, CCINSA, Madurai Kamaraj
University India).
February, 2007
Mr. Rajesh Rajchal published a thesis report "Bats of Nepal " for completion of his special study course,
of M.Sc Forestry at Institute of Forestry, Office of the Dean, Pokhara. For further information about the report contact at
rrajchal@hotmail.com
December/January 2006-2007,
Committee member Mr. Hari Adhikari, Mr. Mohan K.C and general member Mr. Bharat Bhatta participated
throughout the "Training cum Workshop on Conservation and Awareness of Birds, Bats, Wetland and Biodiversity." The whole program
was organized in three different school namely Shree Sitakunda Ma. Bi, (Ramshikar Jhala), Shree Dashrath Ma. Bi (Sadepani)
, and Shree Rastriya Ma. Bi. (Sadepani) of Ghodaghodi lake (Ramsar site in Western development region of Nepal), Kailali.
Wetland friends of Nepal (WFN) organized that training for 12 days (3 days class lecture and 1 day field visit in each school).
Three wetland clubs were formed in three different schools.
September, 2006
Junior Bat Club formed in Bindabasini Higher Secondary School, under Bat Friends of Institute of Forestry,
Pokhara Campus. A committee of 15 members was formed from student selected from class 7, 8, 9 and 10 and membership was opened
for general members. Bindabasini Bat Club is voluntary, non profit making club run by the fund raised from membership fees.
These club members are organizing Quiz Competition, School teaching program within their school compound as their regular
monthly program. This school lies near the Bat Cave (Chamere Gufa) and run by the fund collected from the visitor visiting
that cave.
September, 2006
Committee member Mr. Mohan K.C organized a school teaching program in Shree Mahendra Ma Bi at Chhibang 1,
Rukum. Students were distributed materials related to awareness and conservation of Bats.
Training Program organized in Institute
of Forestry
Pokhara, 5th September, 2006:
Training was organized at Institute of Forestry (IoF) from 1 to 5 September, 2006
by Bat friends, a newly formed club at Institute of Forestry, Pokhara. The main objectives of
this program were to give
the technical knowledge to students as well as to make students aware that bats are important part of ecosystem rather than
the symbol of witch and to strengthen the students towards research of bats. The program was supported by ComForM (Community
Based Natural Forest and Tree Management in the Himalaya), CBEC (Center forBiodiversityand Environment Conservation) , BHSS/BCMC(Bindhabasini
Higher Secondary School/Bat Cave Management Committee),ACAP (Annapurna Conservation Area Project) and NATURE (Nepal ActionTrust
for Utility Resource and Education). It is probably the first training organized in Nepal to foster technical knowledge to
the students regarding bat capturing and handling technique. Dr. LuisRuedas, a Fulbright Scholar to Kathmandu University from
Portland State University, Prof. Shree Prasad Dhaubhadel (Institute of Forestry, Pokhara) and Mr. Pushpa Raj Acharya (M.Sc.
zoology, TU), a young bat researcher were the main resource personnel in the training.They mainly taught trainees about chiroptera
(bats), bats of Nepal and field survey techniques about bats. During the field training on 3rd,4th and 5th September, 2006
two species Hipposideros armiger and Rhinolophus macrotis were recorded for the first time in Pokhara valley. Total 6 species
were recorded from Banpale danda situated within the premises of IoF using an ultra sound detector. 11 speciesof bats were
previously recorded from Pokhara Valley out of 52 batspecies recorded in Nepal. Now the number of bats species in Pokhara
valley can be assured as 13. However, if such survey is conducted in the valley more number of bat species can be recorded.
Training organized has made the students of IoF capable of capturing and handling bats. Thus, this training will support the
conservation of bat through research and awareness activities.
Or you can log on to new website for more information
http://www.forestry nepal.org/ bat-training- organized- in-pokhara
