EF 20 Charity: Stiftung FLEDERMAUS

Bats are fascinating and mysterious creatures! In every day life, the small nocturnal hunters are not seen very often. They have been existing for about 52 million years and are the most diverse order of mammals after rodents. 44 species of bats exist in Europe and 23 of them in Germany. Of all mammals, only bats are capable of true and sustained flight and use ultrasonic sounds for hunting and orientation in the darkness of the night.

Bats are seen as indicator animals for an intact nature: Where bats feel good, the environment is still in order.

Unfortunately, all European bats are highly threatened by extinction. If they are to suceed in their struggle for survival, they need our help. The greatest threat is not coming from one of their natural enemies like martens, owls or domestic cats, but from us humans. Every year bats lose more and more of their natural insect-rich hunting grounds and wintering areas by the large-scale reforming of the natural landscape. Their habitat becomes smaller every day by reducing shrubberies, meadows and hedges, and so the progress of humans brings with it many negative consequences for the bat population.

The young foundation Stiftung FLEDERMAUS  is the first and only foundation in Germany that has been specialized on the protection of the bats and their population. Currently the foundation is focusing on operational activities: Planning and realisation of projects in the field of bat research. But they are also working on protection of habitats, public relations and communication, as well as creating a community of people who are engaged in the protection of bats. At the moment the foundation’s funding comes mainly from several nature protection organisations. In the medium-term, their own capital will be used to realise bat projects nation-wide.

In the federal state of Thuringia the main focus is put on a species, which in Germany is now almost extinct, namely the Lesser-horseshoe bat. Projects have been initiated to create a summer habitat for spreading the species again.

In Germany as well as in the entire European Union, the Stiftung FLEDERMAUS supports all efforts to improve and coordinate the work of experts and helpers. Stiftung FLEDERMAUS is also a founding member of the European umbrella-organisation BatLife Europe and is working on a federal association of bat protectors. To promote this idea, highprofile projects which can serve as models are organized by the Stiftung FLEDERMAUS with the help of partners nation-wide.

Find out more at www.stiftung-fledermaus.de

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