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Chiroptera Conservation and Information
Network of South Asia (CCINSA)
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 The
inspiration for CCINSA had its roots in the
Conservation Assessment and Management Plan
(C.A.M.P.) Workshop for Indian Mammals which was
conducted in 1997, organized and facilitated by Zoo
Outreach Organization/CPSG India. We could find at
that time only 6 people studying bats in India!
During this workshop field biologists from all parts
of India assessed the conservation status of more
than 400 species of Indian mammals (102 of which
were bats) using the 1994 version of the IUCN Red
List Criteria, 1994. The output of the workshop
indicated that while there were a number of
threatened bats, exactly 50% of the 102 bats listed
were "Data Deficient", meaning that we did not have
enough information even to assess their status.
Considering the ecological and economic importance
of bats and the fact that bats make up 25% of the
mammalian diversity of South Asia, it was clear that
much work needed to be done and the workshop bat
working group suggested starting a bat group or
network. The group was initiated in India and added
the South Asian countries in a year or two. In
another status assessment workshop held in 2000
attended by more than 40 researchers, only 3% of
species had to be assessed Data Deficient. A big
difference . . . because we knew more people and had
access to more information.
The purpose of this group and its relationship with
the IUCN SSC Chiroptera Specialist Group is to join
bat field researchers throughout South Asia
(Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Maldives,
Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan) into a
communications network so that a clearer picture can
emerge and lead to conservation action.
The role of Zoo Outreach Organization which has
initiated this network is purely administrative and
coordinating. We take on this task so that
researchers and scientists who need to be linked do
not have to spend time or (often) infrastructure for
this type of work. We also arrange technical
expertise and objective organisation and
facilitation for conducting conservation and field
techniques workshops. Often this method is helpful
in insuring that a greater number and diversity of
specialists contribute to the pool of information
required for a comprehensive overview of the bat
taxon group.
Objectives
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To encourage and
promote the study of bats (Volant [flying]
mammals) of South Asia, by organizing and
running a network of bat specialists, and to
provide them useful services.
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To maintain a check
list and data base -- as complete and
correct as possible -- of bats of South Asia
providing local, national and regional
information to be shared with important
national and international agencies and
organisations; |
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To view the most
current checklist
of these small mammals |
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To catalyse, organize,
conduct and follow-up conservation
assessment and other workshops and training
exercises for bat specialists of South Asia
and public education projects as
appropriate, nationally or regionally. |
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To connect with the Report
of the Chiroptera CAMP |
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Click on these links
below to view the reports of some of these
training workshops
Small
Mammal Field Techniques Training,
Thrissur, Kerala, November 2011
Training
in Field techniques for Small mammals,
Bhutan, September 2009
Bat
Taxonomy and Echolocation Workshop for
Researchers at M.K.U., August 2009
Training
in Field Techniques for survey of
Volant and Non-Volant Small Mammals
Conservation workshop at Nepal, June
2007
Training
in Field Techniques for survey of
Volant and Non-Volant Small Mammals
Conservation workshop at Sri Lanka,
November 2005
Training
in Field techniques on population and
distribution studies, Conservation
Management and Public Education of
Bats and Rodents at Bangladesh -
2005
Field
Techniques for Chiroptera &
Rodentia and Zoo Management Training
- 2004
Training
in Field Techniques for Ecological
Studies of Chiroptera - 2003
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To follow up such workshops with
recommendations to local, state, national
and regional wildlife authorities for
protection for threatened species of bats
and promotion of further studies of Data
Deficient species (ongoing but much needs to
be done). |
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To undertake a set of
specific "tasks" utilising the information
from the 1997 BCPP CAMP workshop and the
2000 Chiroptera CAMP workshop to further
enhance our knowledge of bat status in South
Asia. |
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To research and
disseminate information about funding
sources for field surveys
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To bring out a
newsletter of current bat conservation,
research, education news (several issues
have been brought out and can be found on
our website. |
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To find the current Bat
newsletter Small
Mammal Mail
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To prepare a Directory
of bat specialists of South Asia for
distribution to all network members. |
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To see the Directory
of CCINSA Members |
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To prepare educational
materials on bats at different levels on for
conveying to policy makers, politicians, and
the public - all ages and languages. |
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To involve researchers
in public education on bats by providing
printed material and guidelines. |
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To view the current
educational materials click on the following
links
2007 Bat Packet
and dramakit
2007 Bat
Colouring Book
2008 Fruit Bat
Cards |
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To view the activities
and reports of bat clubs |
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We now have bat people who are our network members
in almost all the South Asian countries. We have
conducted training in India (3 workshops),
Pakistan (1 workshop), Bangladesh (1 workshop)
Nepal (1 workshop) Sri Lanka (1 workshop) and in
Bhutan (1 workshop).
The CCINSA Education Programme has taken on a life
of its own, almost, with regular programmes being
conducted by zoos (whether they keep bats or not),
ngo's, schools, and even bat researchers. Some of
the bat researchers are very high level scientists
and the students lucky enough to be invited to
their programmes are thrilled.
In the CCINSA Education Programme we started a Bat
Club movement for kids. We invite CCINSA members
and some educators to apply for permission to
start a bat club and then send them a kit of
materials which helps them focus on teaching kids
a little at a time and directing them to
appreciate bats. All of our bat clubs have been
outstanding.
If you are involved in research on bats and live
in South Asia and want to join the network, send
us your c.v. by email to zooreach@zooreach.org and we will send you
appropriate material.
Best to bats and their fans,
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Dr. Sripathi Kandula,
Scientific Chair, CCINSA
Dr. Paul Racey, External Advisor, CCINSA
Sally Walker, Convenor and Administrator, CCINSA
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| ©2017 Zoo
Outreach Organization |
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