Cats and dogs among the threats to declining flying fox in Japan

Vincenot, C. E., Koyama, L., & Russo, D. (2015). Near Threatened? First Report of Unsuspected Human-Driven Decline Factors in the Ryukyu Flying Fox (Pteropus dasymallus) in Japan. Mammalian Biology-Zeitschrift für Säugetierkunde.

Japan hosts the largest population of the threatened Ryukyu flying fox (Pteropus dasymallus), which, in Taiwan, suffered a drastic decline leading to local extinctions and, in the Philippines, remains only on three small islands. Conservation of the species in Japan is therefore crucial. National and international assessments have been based only on local anthropogenic factors, such as habitat degradation, electrocution on power lines, and accidental entanglements.

Using face-to-face interviews of farmers of the Yaeyama islands (eastern part of the Ryukyu archipelago), we discovered that other significant human-driven causes of decline were overlooked in assessments. Most importantly, we report here for the first time on the illegal killing of this species by farmers because it feeds on crops. The bat has been killed by intense poisoning, beating, and netting. Other cases of illegal infringement of animal welfare principles by the general population were also encountered (i.e. confinement and mistreatment) but could not be quantified. Furthermore, we also determined the historical use of flying fox meat as a food source, which has also never been documented before. Finally, we identified emerging threats that were previously neglected in the assessments of the species’ conservation status, namely predation by feral or semi-feral cats and dogs, whose populations have been booming in recent years. These unexpected factors, especially the ongoing killing of P.d. yayeyamae, call into question the IUCN downlisting (EN- > NT) decided in 2008, when poisoning campaigns were actually culminating, and lead us to recommend the initiation of conservation actions (particularly population monitoring), education campaigns, as well as the provision of technical assistance to farmers in need of it.

Cats as predators of endangered bats

Rocha, R. 2015. Look what the cat dragged in: Felis silvestris catus as predators of insular bats and instance of predation on the endangered Pipistrellus enmaderes. Barbastella 8 (1) .

This note reports the predation of a threatened Madeira pipistrelle bat by a domestic house cat. This represents the first confirmed record of cat predation upon a Macaronesian bat and adds to an increasing body of evidence suggesting that free-ranging cats pose a strong negative impact to native insular vertebrate populations.

Cat nabbed raiding "the mothership"

April 22nd 2010: 

"The Mothership" is a massive beech tree on the southern slopes of Mt Ruapehu, which can house more than 1000 short-tailed bats.

In the space of 7 days, one cat killed a total of 102 endemic shot-tailed bats, and these only the ones that were found.

Cat predation on bats

Ancillotto, L., Serangeli, M. T., & Russo, D. (2013). Curiosity killed the bat: Domestic cats as bat predators. Mammalian Biology-Zeitschrift für Säugetierkunde.

Domestic cats are suspected to have an impact on wild populations of birds and small mammals, but published reports of predation on bats are either rare or anecdotal.We based our study on 1012 records of bats admitted atfour wildlife rescue centres in peninsular Italy in 2009–2011. We hypothesized that (1) cats prevalently prey on bats emerging from roosts, so newborns or non volant juveniles should be less exposed to predation;(2) because cats occur in human settlements,the bat species most frequently involved are house-roosting (3) predation is season-biased, most events being more likely to take place in summer when females congregate in roosts to reproduce;(4) predation events concentrate in sparseurban and rural areas, where free-ranging cats occur more frequently; and (5) some individual cats may specialize in capturing bats. We found that predation by cats was the first cause of rescue for bats in the study area, accounting for 28.7%of records of adult bats admitted to rehabilitation centres. Although most bats caught by cats belonged to house-roosting species, at least 3 of the 11 species affected were tree- or cave-roosting. Predation affected more frequently adult females in summer and thus threatened reproductive colonies,which were often subjected to repeated predations.As predicted, predation events were associated with land cover, being more abundant in rural and sparse urban areas, where cats are more often allowed to stay outdoor,as confirmed by the results of a cat owner survey we carried out.Cats are explorative mammals, so they may be easily attracted at bat roosts by sensory cues involving sound, smell and vision.Our analysis covered a broad geographical area over a relatively long period and suggests that the threat posed to bats by cats may be significant and should be carefully considered in conservation plans. Strategies to mitigate this impact should encompass the control of feral cat populations and in door restriction of owned cats at least where predation on bats is probable.

Lessons to be learnt from loss of the pipistrelle

A recent paper in the journal Conservation Letters alleges that failure to act quickly on evidence of rapid population decline has led to the first mammal extinction in Australia in the last 50 years, the Christmas Island pipistrelle bat (Pipistrellus murrayi).

Since 26 August 2009, there have been no recordings of the echolocation call of the tiny bat, which is native to Christmas Island. It is now presumed extinct.

In a recently published paper in Conservation Letters, scientists analysed the conservation decision making process associated with the decline of this species and concluded that it illustrated the need for strong leadership on extinction issues.

Among the chain of events analysed was a February 2009 report by Dr Lindy Lumsden – Principal Research Scientist with the Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research, and foremost authority on this species – warning that only 20 bats remained on Christmas Island. Government funding was then allocated to establish a captive breeding program, but that proved too little, too late.

The Christmas Island pipistrelle fed on insects and roosted in tree hollows and decaying vegetation. Just a few decades ago, the bat was widespread on Christmas Island and roosted in groups of 50 or so animals.

‘It is estimated that a single pipistrelle consumes its body weight in insects per night,’ lead author Tara Martin, of CSIRO’s Ecosystem Services, told the conservation website Mongabay.

‘While the loss of the pipistrelle is likely to lead to more insects, it is too early to tell what the long term ecological impact of this will be on the island.’

Scientists are unsure as to what pushed the bat to extinction. It is possible that a combination of stressors was responsible, including invasive animals such as feral cats, the common wolf snake, and a recent invasion of yellow crazy ants. Disease is another possibility, though researchers could find no sign of the bats suffering from illness...

http://www.ecosmagazine.com/paper/EC12309.htm

Martin, T. G., S. Nally, A.A. Burbidge, S. Arnall, S.T. Garnett, M.W. Hayward, L.F. Lumsden, P. Menkhorst, E. McDonald-Madden & H.P. Possingham. 2012. Acting fast helps avoid extinction.Conservation Letters, 5(4), 274-280.

Failure to act quickly on evidence of rapid population decline has led to the first mammal extinction in Australia in the last 50 years, the Christmas Island Pipistrelle (Pipistrellus murrayi). The fate of another iconic species, the migratory Orange-bellied Parrot (Neophema chrysogaster), monitored intensively for over 20 years, hangs in the balance. To inform future conservation management and decision making, we investigate the decision process that has led to the plight of both species. Our analysis suggests three globally relevant recommendations for minimizing species extinction worldwide: (1) informed, empowered, and responsive governance and leadership is essential; (2) processes that ensure institutional accountability must be in place, and; (3) decisions must be made whilst there is an opportunity to act. The bottom line is that, unless responsive and accountable institutional processes are in place, decisions will be delayed and extinction will occur.