Limerick bat walk shines light on Lesser Horseshoe conservation

LIMERICK is a key area for the Lesser Horseshoe bat, a small and special bat species found in parts of Ireland including West Cork, Kerry, Clare, Galway, and Mayo.

Although there are only around 14,000 Lesser Horseshoe bats left in these six counties, their homes have become more and more separated because of changes in the landscape over time.

This separation makes it harder for the bats to find mates from other groups, which can lead to inbreeding and put the overall population at risk.

The Vincent Wildlife Trust (VWT), which works to protect wildlife in Ireland, has partnered with the Mulkear River Catchment Project to create a new conservation initiative focused on the Lesser Horseshoe bat.

This project aims to protect and connect the habitats that these bats depend on, especially around river systems.

To help raise awareness and connect people with nature, an evening walk will take place at Curraghchase Forest Park on Thursday, August 21 at 8pm.

This park is home to Lesser Horseshoe bats, making it a perfect place to learn about them.

During the walk, Dr. Kate McAney, Ireland Mammal Programme Manager for VWT will share interesting facts about the bats and explain why they are important to the local ecosystem.

This event offers a great chance for community members to enjoy a peaceful walk in nature, learn more about biodiversity in the local area, and find out how they can help protect these animals.

It is also a wonderful opportunity to understand how local conservation efforts make a difference in preserving Ireland’s unique wildlife.

Everyone is welcome to join this free, family-friendly event to support the conservation of the Lesser Horseshoe bat and celebrate Limerick’s rich natural heritage.

The conservation status of the Lesser Horseshoe bat was recently downgraded from ‘Favourable’ to ‘Inadequate,’ meaning that without action, their numbers and range will continue to decline.

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Limerick bat walk shines light on Lesser Horseshoe conservation

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