Earthwatch Australia Teach Live

Malaysia has a high diversity of insectivorous bats. These bats are susceptible to environmental disruption and 31 are listed on the IUCN Red-List of Threatened Species. The bats are affected by both habitat loss and fragmentation and habitat changes as edge effects alter the forest microclimate and impact insect availability. Insectivorous bats are highly adapted to living in dense forest understorey.

Their wing morphology and echolocation signal design are specialised for dense forest further increasing their susceptibility to habitat change.

The Malaysian Bat Conservation Research Unit (MBCRU) was established to promote research and conservation education of bats through research, capacity building and education.

The aim of the project is to develop a predictive framework for identifying bat species most at risk from habitat disturbance. The project is investigating the patterns and processes affecting diversity in bat communities in undisturbed rainforest so that responses to habitat change can be modelled accurately.

Volunteer Activities

Teachers will assist with routine monitoring, radio-tracking and habitat mapping programs. Since the monitoring program began in 2002, over 25000 bats have been captured of at least 42 species. Teams catch between 10 and 100 bats each night (so there is plenty to do!) and you will be trained to identify and measure each individual before it is released back in the forest.

Over the years the research team have been radio-tracking selected species that differ in their roosting ecology. Radio-transmitters are attached to the backs of the individuals and you will have the opportunity to track them to their roosts, help characterize the roosts and assess roost availability so that scientists can understand how roost choice interacts with population size, distribution and extinction risk.

Additionally, volunteers will be educated through nightly lectures and briefing sessions on bat diversity, bat ecology and conservation.

Meals and Accommodation

Accommodation will be based at one of the Field Stations where you will either be sleeping on mattresses on the floor or in basic beds. There will be two bathrooms, one with a cold shower the other with the traditional Malay ‘mandi’ (a large tub of water from which water is scooped). Local cooks will be employed to prepare your lunch and dinner so much of it will be traditional Malay food that is strongly rice-based and served with delicious curries. Breakfast will be self-serve.