A rare bat was discovered in Uzbekistan for the first time

Rare bat species identified in Uzbekistan for the first time

Scientists from the Institute of Zoology of the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan, together with foreign colleagues, have recorded the Turkmen long-eared bat (Plecotus turkmenicus) — a rare and little-studied bat species — in the country for the first time. It was discovered in the "South Ustyurt" National Nature Park.

This species is considered extremely rare. Until now, information about it was mainly based on data collected before 1970 and museum specimens. The Turkmen long-eared bat has hardly been observed in its natural habitat over the past 55 years.

The discovery was made during an expedition organized as part of the international project "One Health in Nature Conservation." The project is implemented with the participation of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and funded by the International Climate Initiative (IKI) of the German Environment Ministry.

Earlier in Tashkent, a man was fined for shooting at ducks with a slingshot in a capital park.