Breaking AI & Tech News Analyzed

The Rediscovery of Hipposideros curtus in Afi Mountain Sanctuary At sunrise in the Afi Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary, Iroro Tanshi and her team captured a bat that looked "very, very different" – a big‑eared creature later identified as the short‑tailed roundleaf bat, a species not recorded in the wild since the 1970s. Numbers Behind the Find: 15 Bats and a Vanishing Habitat The initial capture was followed by 15 additional individuals found using harp traps and mist nets. The sanctuary spans an area roughly the size of central Paris, providing a critical refuge for the species. In nearby villages, bats are sold for 5,000 naira (about £2.70) per four, highlighting market pressure. Implications for Conservation and Local Communities The bat’s rediscovery overturns the assumption that the species was extinct, but it also exposes a cultural bias: primates receive protection while bats are still hunted. Negative folklore, association with disease, and their use as bushmeat compound the threat. To counter these pressures, Tanshi co‑founded the Small Mammal Conservation Organisation (Smacon) in 2016 and launched the Zero Wildfire Campaign to curb habitat‑destroying fires. Colour‑coded alert systems and a volunteer "Forest Guardians" network have already reduced wildfire incidents over the past five years. Future Outlook: Protecting Bats Amid Cultural Challenges Continued success will depend on expanding community education, integrating bat protection into existing wildlife‑conservation frameworks, and securing legal safeguards for small‑mammal roosts. If local attitudes shift and fire‑prevention measures scale, the Afi colony could become a cornerstone for regional bat recovery and a model for protecting other overlooked species.