A Nigerian biologist has rediscovered the short-tailed roundleaf bat, a species presumed extinct, in Afi Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary in Nigeria's Cross River rainforest. Iroro Tanshi located the bat, which weighs approximately 5 grams (the mass of a teaspoon of salt), at the only confirmed roosting colony of the species.
The short-tailed roundleaf bat represents a conservation priority. The species vanished from scientific records for decades, its status unknown until Tanshi's discovery at the sanctuary. The bat's tiny size and cryptic behavior made detection difficult, explaining its absence from documented sightings over years.
Afi sanctuary, spanning roughly the size of central Paris in southeast Nigeria, provides habitat for multiple endangered species alongside the rediscovered bat. The protected area shelters western lowland gorillas, drill monkeys, and grey-necked rockfowl, establishing it as a biodiversity hotspot requiring active management.
Tanshi's work centers on protecting this newly confirmed population. The sanctuary's steep terrain and intact forest cover offer conditions necessary for the bat's survival, but threats from habitat loss persist across the region. The Cross River rainforest continues facing pressure from deforestation and human encroachment.
The rediscovery underscores how species can remain hidden in protected areas, only emerging through dedicated field research. Tanshi's documentation of the roosting colony provides baseline data for monitoring population trends and implementing targeted conservation measures. The bat's presence in Afi sanctuary suggests the site warrants increased protection status and resources.
This finding demonstrates the value of established wildlife sanctuaries in preserving critically endangered species. The short-tailed roundleaf bat now has a documented refuge, though ongoing threats require sustained conservation effort to prevent its extinction.