Land purchase to protect bat colony

An association has bought one hectare of land at the entrance to the Tourtouse cave in Ariège to safeguard a colony of more than 5,000 bats, including endangered species like the Schreibers' bat. This acquisition is part of a larger strategy to protect the cave and its ecosystem through land ownership.

Significance of the Tourtouse cave

The Tourtouse cave, which is more than one kilometer long, hosts one of the most important bat colonies in France. It is classified as part of the Natura 2000 area, a network of protected natural sites across Europe aimed at preserving biodiversity and habitats.

Funding and management of the land

The land purchase, which took six years to complete, was largely funded by a private donation. The association now controls access to the cave, aiming to prevent disturbances such as sudden lights or flashes that could awaken the bats. A prefectural decree also prohibits entry during the birthing season, from March 1 to September 30.

Creating a national underground nature reserve

The association is working to establish a national underground nature reserve, with Ariège possibly becoming the first department in France to have such a reserve. This initiative aims to expand the protected area to include the hunting grounds of the bats, which are found in forests, wetlands, meadows, and farmland.

Conservation practices and awareness

To support bat habitats, the association promotes practices such as late mowing, planting hedges, maintaining hollow trees, and preserving ponds. It also runs awareness campaigns in nearby villages and offers contracts to farmers and foresters to adopt bat-friendly practices.

Decline in bat populations

Bat populations in France have declined by an average of 30% between 2013 and 2024, with the Schreibers' bat experiencing a 32.9% decline. This decline is linked to factors such as the artificialization of meadows, deforestation, the destruction of hunting grounds, and pesticide use in agriculture.

Climate change and wind turbines

Climate change is also affecting bat habitats, as the Tourtouse cave has warmed by about 0.1 degree per year. Some species, like Kuhl's pipistrelle, are moving northward as temperatures become more favorable. Wind turbines also pose a threat, with their blades killing large numbers of high-altitude species like the common noctule, which has seen a 52.3% population decline between 2006 and 2023.

Research and preservation efforts

The Tourtouse cave is a site of interest for research, including studies by virologist Laurent Dacheux from the Pasteur Institute on how bats coexist with viruses. The cave supports both scientific research and the preservation of bat species, highlighting its ecological and scientific importance.