Red List of South African Species

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Least Concern (LC)
Assessors: Kate MacEwan David Jacobs Corrie Schoeman Leigh Rosanne Richards Lientjie Cohen Ara Monadjem Theresa Sethusa Peter Taylor
Contributors: Samantha Page-Nicholson Claire Relton Domitilla Raimondo
Reviewers: Kate MacEwan David Jacobs Corrie Shoeman Leigh Rosanne Richards Lientjie Cohen Ara Monadjem Theresa Sethusa Peter Taylor

Rationale

The species is very widely distributed (with an estimated extent of occurrence of 1,340,000 km2), locally common and recorded from many formally protected areas within the assessment region. While previously not considered to face significant threats, there is a current confirmed and severe threat posed by wind farms, and preliminary data indicate that this species has the highest number of confirmed mortalities at wind farms. Though currently not believed to be declining at a rate fast enough to qualify for a threatened status, the species needs close monitoring and further protective measures need to be implemented.

Regional population effects: This species is present within South Africa’s neighbouring countries and is distributed along the country’s borders. Its high wing-loading (Schoeman & Jacobs 2008) means dispersal and thus rescue effects are possible.

Distribution

The Egyptian Free-tailed Bat is found throughout Africa, and in the Arabian Peninsula through to India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and south Asia (Bates & Harrison 1997). It is widespread and abundant throughout most of southern Africa, occurring from the Western Cape of South Africa north through to Namibia and southern Angola, and through Zimbabwe to central and northern Mozambique (Monadjem et al. 2010). Similarly, it is widely distributed in the assessment region, occurring in all nine provinces of South Africa as well as in Lesotho and Swaziland (Skinner & Chimimba 2005; Monadjem et al. 2010, 2016). Its estimated extent of occurrence is 1,340,000 km2.

Population trend

Trend

Although accurate population records are unknown at this stage, this species is widespread and common within the assessment region, as well as within the rest of its range. It roosts communally in small to medium-sized groups, which may number in the dozens to hundreds (Herselman & Norton 1985). Additionally, it is well represented in museums, with over 450 specimens examined in Monadjem et al. (2010).

Threats

Whilst there were no serious past threats to this species, it is vulnerable to mortality on wind energy facilities, which are increasing in South Africa. Resultantly, many carcasses of Egyptian Free-tailed Bat are found below the wind turbines (Photo 1). For example, during a recent preliminary assessment of bat mortality at a pilot wind turbine in the Coega Industrial Development Zone (Eastern Cape), the Egyptian Free-tailed Bat was one of two species reported to have been fatally injured by the wind turbine (Doty & Martin 2013). Overall, this species has the highest number of confirmed mortalities at wind farms (K. MacEwan unpubl. data). It is a high open air forager and is very susceptible to wind turbine blade collisions (Doty & Martin 2013) or mortality as a result of barotrauma (Baerwald et al. 2008; Cryan & Barclay 2009). Barotrauma is tissue damage caused by rapid excessive changes in air pressure near turbine blades (Baerwald et al. 2008; Rydell et al. 2010). The situation needs to be monitored very carefully to avoid unsustainable losses, as the reproductive capacity of this species is limited to one pup per year (Monadjem et al. 2010).

As this species roosts in caves, it may be somewhat vulnerable to roost disturbance, as many traditional ceremonies or tourism activities take place in caves.

Uses and trade

There is no evidence to suggest that this species is traded or harvested within the assessment region.

Conservation

This species is found in many protected areas in the assessment region, including large reserves such as Kruger National Park, iSimangaliso Wetland Park, Ithala Game Reserve, Maloti-Drakensberg Transfrontier Conservation and Development Area, Madikwe Game Reserve, Pilanesberg National Park, Augrabies Falls National Park, and the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.

Bat monitoring data collected from ongoing pre- and post-construction of wind energy facilities, in conjunction with population level assessments, must inform the need for future conservation efforts for this species. Moreover, seasonal behaviour and movement patterns of this species should be investigated.

Recommendations for land managers and practitioners:
  • Monitoring mortality data of bats at wind turbine sites. Data sharing by wind farm managers into a national database to be able to calculate cumulative impacts and thereafter implement collaborative mitigation and management efforts is needed.
Research priorities:
  • Monitoring mortalities linked with wind farm operations and assessing impact on populations.
  • Research in identifying key migratory routes.
  • Investigations into effective mitigation methods to reduce bat mortality around wind farms.
Encouraged citizen actions:
  • Citizens can assist the conservation of the species by reporting sightings on virtual museum platforms (for example, iSpot and MammalMAP), and therefore contribute to an understanding of the species distribution.

References 

[@book{275,
 address = {Cambridge},
 author = {Skinner, J.D. and Chimimba, C.T.},
 publisher = {Cambridge University Press, United Kingdom},
 title = {The Mammals of the Southern African Subregion},
 year = {2005}
}
,@book{9077,
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 author = {Taylor, P.J.},
 publisher = {University of Natal Press},
 title = {The Smaller Mammals of KwaZulu-Natal},
 year = {1998}
}
,@article{19529,
 author = {Herselman, J. C. and Norton, P. M.},
 journal = {Annals of the Cape Provincial Museums},
 pages = {74--126},
 title = {The distribution and status of bats (Mammalia: Chiroptera) in the Cape Province},
 volume = {16},
 year = {1985}
}
,@book{19529,
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 publisher = {University of Witwatersrand Press},
 title = {Bats of Southern and Central Africa: a biogeographic and taxonomic synthesis},
 year = {2010}
}
,@article{19529,
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 title = {Artificial wetlands and surrounding habitats provide important foraging habitat for bats in agricultural landscapes in the Western Cape, South Africa},
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 title = {The impact and implications of climate change for bats},
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,@article{4317,
 author = {Baerwald EF, D’Amours GH, Klug BJ, Barclay RM},
 journal = {Current Biology},
 pages = {695–696},
 title = {Barotrauma is a significant cause of bat fatalities at wind turbines},
 volume = {18},
 year = { 200}
}
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 title = { Causes of bat fatalities at wind turbines: hypotheses and predictions},
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,@article{4317,
 author = {Rydell J, Bach L, Dubourg-Savage M-J, Green M, Rodrigues L, Hedenström A},
 journal = {European Journal of Wildlife Research},
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 title = {Mortality of bats at wind turbines links to nocturnal insect migration?},
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}
,@article{4317,
 author = {Schoeman MC, Jacobs DS},
 journal = {PLoS One},
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 title = {The relative influence of competition and prey defenses on the phenotypic structure of insectivorous bat ensembles in southern Africa},
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,@article{21312,
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 title = {Assessment of bat and avian mortality at a pilot wind turbine at Coega, Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, South Africa.},
 volume = {40},
 year = {2013}
}
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 year = {1971}
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,@electronic{21312,
 author = {Monadjem A, Jacobs D, Cotterill W, Hutson AM, Mickleburgh S, Bergmans W, Fahr J},
 title = {<i>Tadarida aegyptiaca</i>. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017: e.T21312A22115459.},
 year = {2016}
}
,]
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