On 29 and 30 August, the Azores took part in the 30th International Bat Night, an initiative celebrated in over 50 countries to raise awareness of the importance of these small mammals in maintaining ecosystem balance.

As part of the LIFE IP AZORES NATURA project, coordinated by the Regional Secretariat for the Environment and Climate Action, activities were organised across all the islands of the archipelago, allowing participants to learn more about the Azorean Bat (Nyctalus azoreum), the Region’s only endemic mammal. The initiatives included opportunities to observe the species and demonstrations using ultrasound detectors, which enabled participants to identify and interpret the sounds emitted by these animals.

On some islands, the educational activity ‘Get to Know the Azorean Bat’ was also organised, as part of the LIFE IP AZORES NATURA’s ‘School Environmental Awareness Activities Offer’ (OASAE). Through fun, educational activities, participants learnt about the species’ main characteristics, its habitats, the threats it faces, and the importance of its conservation.

The Azorean Bat plays a vital role in the island’s ecosystems, particularly by naturally controlling insects, and is a unique part of the Azores’ natural heritage. These initiatives have helped improve public knowledge and raise awareness of the species’ conservation and the habitats it depends on.

With the financial support of the LIFE Programme of the European Union.