UNEP/EUROBATS

The project was conducted by Vertebrate Zoology Department of the faculty of Biology and Soil Science from Saint Petersburg State University between March 2009 and February 2010, funded by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety.

Count of the pond bats in all caves of the Leningrad region was conducted (32 caves). The main pond bat hibernaculum was revealed, where about 1200 pond bats hibernate. A special observation of this colony was undertaken (cave particularities, bat distribution in the cave, time of bat settlement in the cave). The area of summer distribution of this population was outlined. A popular article on caves and bats of Leningrad region was published in Russian. A manuscript of scientific paper in English about pond bat hibernacula was prepared. Materials on bat protection necessity were prepared for the local administration.
We are very grateful for the financial support of our project by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety.