Yushan National park has a rich variety of bats. The “secret caves in the clouds” are being sought to solve the mystery of bat hibernation

In tropical and semi-tropical Taiwan, Formosan black bears (Ursus thibetanus formosanus台灣黑熊) and other mammals can easily find food so they usually don’t hibernate, however, bats are rarely seen in Taiwan in winter. Do they hibernate like bats in the frigid zone? 

In 2007, the park headquarters commissioned the Bat Association of Taiwan to carry out a bat survey along the Nanzihsian River forest road at an elevation of over 2000 meters. It was found that many types of bat that live at low altitudes in spring and summer migrate to caves at an elevation over 2000 meters to hibernate in winter. 15 species of bat were found in this area, 80% of the 19 species that have been recorded in the park. Five species, the Formosan greater horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus luctus Formosan 台灣大蹄鼻蝠), the Formosan tailless leaf-nosed bat (Coelops frithi formosanus 無尾葉鼻蝠), the Formosan lesser horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus monoceros 台灣小蹄鼻蝠), the Japanese long-winged bat (Miniopterus schreibersii 摺翅蝠) and the Formosan whiskered bat (Myotis taiwanensis 台灣鼠耳蝠) are typical cave-dwelling bats. In 2008, the Formosan tailless leaf-nosed bat was listed by the Council for Agriculture as a “rare and valuable species.”

Just how many bats migrate to hibernate in caves in this area? After further monitoring this mystery will soon be solved.

Translated by：Kevin Lax
Source：Yushan National Park Headquarters