India is home to 135 bat species, including 16 endemic, but they are among some of the least studied mammals, with 35 species still data deficient or unassessed, a study has found.
The two-year study titled ‘State of India’s Bats’ found West Bengal (68 species), Meghalaya (66 species), and Uttarakhand (52 species) are India’s bat diversity hotspots.
The study warned that only seven species are classified as threatened, but this is likely an undercount, due to data gaps in covering bats across the country.
Experts said data gaps and a lack of knowledge around bats, particularly government data, remain a challenge.
The report called for scaling up surveys, improving taxonomic clarity, and integrating bats into environmental policy, impact assessments, and tourism planning.
