Research in the area around the Cheme Bird Sanctuary

The importance of bats to local communities

• They destroy 1.  and other crop pests.
• They help prevent farm workers from being bitten by 2. .

• They have been an important part of the local culture for many years.

• They now support the economy by attracting 3.  to the area.

Falling numbers of bats

• The bats may be accidentally killed

• by 4.  when feeding or migrating
• by electrocution from contact with power lines, especially during 5. .
• Local fruit growers may illegally trap them or 6.  them.

Ways of protecting fruit from bats

• removing wild fruit trees from the area (unhelpful)

• placing a 7.  around each orchard tree (expensive)

• frightening bats by

• keeping a 8.  playing
• shining a 9. , e.g. with battery lamps
• A 10.  of methods is usually most effective.