Parti-colored bat breeding in Hokkaido
Parti-colored bats (Vespertilio murinus, sometimes called Rearmouse) are medium sized (5 cm or so) bats which belong to the family of Vesper bats. They are one of the protected species, which commonly known to occur in Europe. They’re called “hime-hina koumori” in Japanese.
Here’s a great shot of a parti-colored bat by Daniel Hargreaves on Flickr
Parti-colored bats sighting has been rare in Japan. They were found in four isolated cases in Hokkaido and Tohoku until recently, but their habitats were unknown. This June, however, Mr. Kondo, a curator in Nemuro city (Hokkaido) has spotted about 60 bats in a chink in the wall of a building in Ozora town. Then in August through September, he observed roughly 100 bat pups flying in and out of the same chink in the wall. The breeding site of parti-colored bats was confirmed for the first time in Japan.
Mr. Kondo reported his findings to the Japan Environmental ministry. They will be filing the case under “endangered species” to help preserve the bats.
Bats are so cool!
