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| Female greater mouse-eared bat found in Sussex tunnels | |
| (14 days later) | |
| The female greater mouse-eared bat was found in disused railway tunnels in Sussex | The female greater mouse-eared bat was found in disused railway tunnels in Sussex |
| What was thought to be the last bat of its species in the UK may finally have a mate, according to bat experts. | What was thought to be the last bat of its species in the UK may finally have a mate, according to bat experts. |
| The greater mouse-eared bat (Myotis myotis) was declared extinct in 1992, before a single male was found in a disused railway tunnel in West Sussex in 2002 and another in 2023, | The greater mouse-eared bat (Myotis myotis) was declared extinct in 1992, before a single male was found in a disused railway tunnel in West Sussex in 2002 and another in 2023, |
| A female of the species has now been spotted in the same area in the South Downs National Park, the first in the wild since the 1980s. | A female of the species has now been spotted in the same area in the South Downs National Park, the first in the wild since the 1980s. |
| Daniel Hargreaves, bat programme manager for Vincent Wildlife Trust, said the new discovery was "fantastic news" and he felt "privileged to have witnessed it first-hand". | Daniel Hargreaves, bat programme manager for Vincent Wildlife Trust, said the new discovery was "fantastic news" and he felt "privileged to have witnessed it first-hand". |
| A spokesperson for Sussex Bat Group said: "With no sightings in 2024, the species was thought to have said a final farewell to Britain." | A spokesperson for Sussex Bat Group said: "With no sightings in 2024, the species was thought to have said a final farewell to Britain." |
| Conservationists have ringed the female bat to be able to identify it in future monitoring and research surveys. | Conservationists have ringed the female bat to be able to identify it in future monitoring and research surveys. |
| They are continuing to monitor the area for more individuals and roosts in the hope of finding an established breeding population. | They are continuing to monitor the area for more individuals and roosts in the hope of finding an established breeding population. |
| The greater mouse-eared bat was declared extinct in the UK in 1992 | The greater mouse-eared bat was declared extinct in the UK in 1992 |
| Daniel Whitby, a bat ecologist, said: "The finding of a female is rewarding and a remarkable discovery which brings huge hope for this species. | Daniel Whitby, a bat ecologist, said: "The finding of a female is rewarding and a remarkable discovery which brings huge hope for this species. |
| "By providing suitable roosts, restoring habitats and reducing anthropogenic threats such as artificial light and noise, this species might just stand a chance of recovering." | "By providing suitable roosts, restoring habitats and reducing anthropogenic threats such as artificial light and noise, this species might just stand a chance of recovering." |
| The original male of the species has not been spotted in the area since 2023. | The original male of the species has not been spotted in the area since 2023. |
| Nick Gray, from Sussex Bat Group, said: "The site is undoubtedly of national significance and we are so lucky to have it here within the South Downs National Park." | Nick Gray, from Sussex Bat Group, said: "The site is undoubtedly of national significance and we are so lucky to have it here within the South Downs National Park." |
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