Shei-pa National Park has greater bat diversity than any other national park in Taiwan

Shei-pa National Park has greater bat diversity than any other national park in Taiwan. In the northwest of the park (Guanwu to Syuejian), at an elevation of around 2000 meters, primitive forest and secondary growth meet and the area attracts a variety of species and is the place with the highest bat diversity in Taiwan.

The distance between Guanwu and Syuejian is only around 12 kilometers as the crow flies. The two places together have 22 species of bat, including all the species of bat found in Shei-Pa national park, accounting for 76% of Taiwan’s insectivorous bat species (29). Bats recorded in the two areas include the frosted bat (Vespertilio superans), the only record of this bat in Taiwan, rare Horikawa's brown bat (Harpiocephalus harpia), Hairy-winged bat (Harpiocephalus harpia) Formosan yellow-chest bat (Murina lucogaster bicolor) Watase's orange whiskered bat (Myotis formosus watasei,) Formosan yellow-throated bat (Arielulus torquatus Gabor & Lee), Formosan greater horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus luctus formosae.),  Formosan Broad-muzzled Bat (Barbastella leucomelas. Formosan barbastelle), Taiwanese woolly bat (Kerivoula sp) and also the Formosan tailless leaf-nosed bat (Coelops frithi formosanus), the only insectivorous bat on the list of new rare and valuable species issued by the Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan in 2008. Related conservation research and survey work is continuing and the rich research data will be a precious national park environmental education and eco-tourism resource.

Translated by：Kevin Lax
Source：Shei-pa National Park Headquarters