A note on bat faunal assessment in Karuna bat cave, Baglung, Nepal

(Uploaded by Plazi for the Bat Literature Project) In 2019, we surveyed the Karuna bat cave during spring and autumn seasons and recorded two species of fruit bats; Rousettus leschenaultii and Eonycteris spelaea, and two species of insectivorous bats; Hipposideros armiger and Rhinolophus macrotis. Although there was no variation in colony size of insectivorous bats, the fruit bat population (around 38,000 individuals) was only recorded in autumn which indicated seasonal migration. Occasional killing of bats, unsustainable guano extraction, and tourism development threaten this major cave for bats in Nepal. The study recommends prioritizing scientific research and bat friendly cave conservation actions.