Evidence-based bat conservation measures: example 2

Bat conservation in Vadu Crișului Cave, Romania

Type of example:

Best practice case / positive example of bat conservation

Name of the underground site:

Vadu Crișului Cave

Site location:

Romania, Pădurea Craiului Mountains, Bihor County, Natura 2000 site ROSCI0062 Defileul Crişului

Type of underground site:

Cave

The site is used by bats:

In winter / for hibernation

Legal protection of the site:

Legally protected

Brief description of the legal protection status of the site:

The cave is inside the Natura 2000 site ROSCI0062 Defileul Crişului Repede - Pădurea Craiului. It is an official touristic cave since decades, with concrete walkways and artificial lighting.

Conservation measure implemented:

1. Stainless steel gate with horizontal cells

2. Warning sign and information board

3. Protective handrail to delimit the tourist path from the colony

Year(s) or exact date(s) of implementing conservation measure:

2012

Bat species targeted by the conservation measures:

Rhinolophus ferrumequinum

Details of the conservation measures:

The old metal gate at the cave entrance, which had vertical cell structure, was changed to a stainless steel gate that has horizontal cell structure. Horizontal bars have now a distance of 14 cm between them. A small warning board was placed at the cave entrance, with details about access, and a large, detailed information board was placed 50 meters from the cave, at the hut of the tourist guide.

The situation before implementing the conservation measures:

The old stainless steel gate of the cave had a structure consisting of vertical cells. The site is home to a hibernation colony of Rhinolophus ferrumequinum, consisting of 98-205 bats in the 1997-2012 period. A few Rhinolophus hipposideros (25-30 bats) also hibernate here. 

The situation after implementing the conservation measures:

The gate structure was changed to horizontal cells, with distance of 14 cm between horizontal stainless steel bars, in early 2012, in frame of the LIFE project "Bat conservation in Pădurea Craiului, Bihor and Trascău Mountains" LIFE08 NAT/RO/000504. A handrail of around 10 meters was also placed inside the cave, to delimit the tourist path from the hibernation colony. A small warning board was placed at the cave entrance, with information about prohibited periods and adequate behavior around bats. A large, detailed information board was placed 20 meters from the cave, at the hut of the tourist guide. Since the intervention, the hibernation colony of Rhinolophus ferrumequinum increased to a maximum of 352 bats (in 2019), with a minimum of 148 bats in 2024 (atypical winter and/or survey too early in winter and/or disturbance in winter by tourists). In winter 2025 the size of the colony was 265 bats.

Challenges encountered during implementation:

No particular challenges encountered.

Challenges encountered after implementation:

The site is still an official touristic cave, visited each winter by a few hundred people. The hibernation colony does seem to be not affected by this low frequency winter tourism. Recently there are projects that plan to modify and extend the touristic route. To our knowledge the project does not have any permits regarding these interventions, making it illegal.

Details about citation:

Barti, L. 1997. Denevérszámlálási adatok a Crysis Barlangkutató Klub adatbázisából (1996-1997). Erdélyi Gyopár 7(5): 28.

Bücs Sz., Jére Cs., Csősz I., Barti L., Szodoray-Parádi F. (2012): Distribution and conservation status of cave-dwelling bats in the Romanian Western Carpathians. Vespertilio 16: 97-113.

Bücs Sz., Jére Cs., Csősz I., Barti L., Szodoray-Parádi F. (2017c): Bat conservation in North-Western Romania during the LIFE08 NAT/RO/000504 project in the Pădurea Craiului, Bihor and Trascău Mountains. LIFE+ conference „Carrying out necessary conservation work on a territory of Szachownica Cave designated within Natura 2000”, Aprilie 2017, Osjakow, Poland.

Bücs Sz.L., Jére Cs., Csősz I., Cociuba D., Crețu G., Bodea F., Nae A., Meleg I., Nae I., Băncilă R.I., Plăiașu R., Vlaicu M. (2022): Colectarea datelor de chiropterofaună în vederea raportării naționale în baza articolului 17 al Directivei Habitate. A V-a Conferință Națională de Chiropterologie din România Octombrie 2022, Cernat, jud. Covasna.

Proiectul POS Mediu "Monitorizarea stării de conservare a speciilor și habitatelor de interes comunitar din România pe baza articolului 17 din Directiva Habitate, implementat de Institutul de Biologie București, contractat de Asocierea Institutul de Speologie „Emil Racoviță” și Asociația pentru Protecția Liliecilor din România (2013-2014), finanțatdin Fondul European de Dezvoltare Regională prin Programul Operațional Sectorial Mediu.

Proiectul Completarea nivelului de cunoaștere a biodiversității prin implementarea sistemului de monitorizare a stării de conservare a speciilor și habitatelor de interes comunitar din România și raportarea în baza articolului 17 al Directivei Habitate 92/43/CEE, cod SMIS 120009, componenta specii de chiroptere (2019-2022).

Attached media:

Example provided by:

Szilárd-Lehel Bücs, Centre for Bat Research and Conservation, Romania