Rare Greater horseshoe bats found in gold mine

04/09/2006 00:00:00 An extremely rare bat – the Greater Horseshoe bat - has been found for the first time at the National Trust’s Dolaucothi Goldmines in Carmarthenshire, south Wales.

With its distinct horseshoe shaped plate of skin around its nostrils that lends it its name, the Greater Horseshoe bat has undergone a major decline in Britain and the rest of northern Europe, making it one of the rarest bats in the UK. Its hibernation sites have declined by 23% in the UK, and its population is now estimated to be about 350 in Wales – centred on 2, or possibly 3, main nursery colonies in south Pembrokeshire. This gem of a bat was spotted at Dolaucothi Goldmines by the Carmarthenshire Bat Group, who regularly monitor the bats at the mines. 7 other species of bat were recorded at the site during their recent visits, including the common and soprano pipistrelle, the brown long-eared, Daubenton’s, Noctule, Natterer’s and the Lesser Horseshoe bats.

The National Trust’s Property Manager at Dolaucothi Goldmines, Paul Faulkner, said: ‘We’ve noticed an increase in the number of species of bats found in the mines each year, which is fantastic, but finding the incredibly rare Greater Horseshoe Bat at the site really is the icing on the cake. We avoid taking visitors to areas of the mine that we know are frequently used by the bats, and if there is any future work carried out in the mine we take the necessary steps to ensure the least amount of disruption is caused. For example when we replace the gates at the entrance to the mine, we will ensure that the bars are horizontal not vertical so that the bats can easily fly in and out.’

Dr. David Bullock, Head of Nature Conservation for the National Trust and an expert on bats, adds: ‘The National Trust has a national responsibility for the conservation of bats as part of its contribution to the Biodiversity Action Plan process. We rely on local batworkers for many of our bat records, and the surveys by Carmarthenshire Bat Group have really put Dolaucothi on the map for these declining species. It is possible that the Pembrokeshire Greater Horseshoe Bats (the only ones in Wales) are ‘getting to know’ the goldmines with a view to using them as a hibernation site on a regular basis. If they do, we are ready to accommodate them.’