Sumatra's Strange Bats

A rare bat found in a small area in the rain forests of Sumatra island. The environmentalists said the findings indicate that even though a piece of forest remaining, still need to be protected. Conservationists from the UK found Ridley’s bat with a nose like a leaf was found in the forest area of 300 hectares only, when they conducted a survey of biodiversity in West Sumatra,Indonesia . Bat Ridley leaf-nosed (Hipposideros ridleyi) was found perched in tree cavities (hollows and cavities in trees, under fallen trees, and chunks of wood). By the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the bats belong to the list of threatened species and should be protected.

Currently, small forest in Sumatra is surrounded byoil palm plantations. As is known, often made in the area of plantation forests were cut down and then expanding into areas where endangered the species there. In addition to bats, in a survey, also found the sun bear, tapir, agile gibbon, and langur. Everything is also included in the list of endangered animals. “These findings indicate that a particular forest area is the most suitable place for a number of wildlife species that need to be protected,” said Matthew Struebig, lead researcher from the University of London, as quoted by LiveScience, 12 November 2010. To that end, the scientific community, Struebig said, should support the business community in finding ways how to prevent the lives of endangered species for the long term.

“Farmers need to identify the palm of certain areas that require special attention, although the region is located on land or agricultural areas,” said Struebig. “They need to be kept and cared for wildlife habitat, he said. The area is surveyed in Sumatra is currently managed as a conservation area by a company’s oil palmplantation owners. The management aims to restrict logging and forest encroachment. However, the effectiveness of conservation of forest areas is doubtful. “Protecting forests will always be a priority for environmentalists, but if the ambitions of the owners of agricultural land to expand oil palm plantations realized, hence maintaining forest areas within oil palm plantations is also a matter important to maintain biodiversity in Indonesia, “said Sophie Persey, from the Zoological Society of London who also Oil PalmProject Manager.

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