Ghost Bat photographed on Pungalina Wildlife Sanctuary in 2009.

© Wayne Lawler-Australian Wildlife Conservancy

Conservationists have confirmed the presence of the Ghost Bat, a species that was once believed to feed on blood, on Bullo River Station in the Northern Territory’s Victoria River District. The discovery of the large, flying predator will help fill knowledge gaps about the vulnerable species, particularly its distribution in this under-surveyed part of northern Australia, highlighting the conservation value of northern pastoral landscapes.

The species, Australia’s only carnivorous bat species, feeds on bats, lizards and mice and was first spotted by a Bullo River staff member. Emanuele Lai was exploring gorges in the station’s Special Management Zone, which encompasses a large part of the property where Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC) works in partnership with Bullo River Station to undertake conservation and land management activities.

After hearing the exciting news, AWC deployed a team to locate the species that has disappeared from central and southern Australia and has experienced significant population decline in the north. Due to habitat loss, degradation, and disturbance of their roosting sites, the Ghost Bat is nationally classified as Vulnerable and recognised as Near Threatened in the Northern Territory, where it is primarily found across the Top End.

“Ghost Bats are one of our most fascinating bat species, being Australia’s only member of the ‘false vampire bat’ family, so we were keen to confirm their presence at Bullo River Station,” said Dr Rebecca Diete, AWC Regional Ecologist. “We know relatively little about where the bats occur across this part of the country, so every new record helps us build a clearer picture of their distribution and the habitats they rely on.”

Acoustic lures, a new method for detecting Ghost Bats developed by Dr Laura Ruykys and Dr Nicola Hanrahan, as part of a collaboration between the Northern Territory Government and Charles Darwin University, were systematically deployed in suitable Ghost Bat habitat along with an infrared video camera to capture any movement. The recorded sound of squabbling Ghost Bats worked a treat, with multiple bats recorded fluttering and swooping around the speaker.

“This detection of ghost bats at Bullo River is significant, as the site sits within a region with few prior records between the Kimberley and the Top End, offering valuable insight into current distribution patterns and potential gene flow pathways between these regions,” said Nicola.

Moving forward, AWC will continue to conduct Ghost Bat surveys at Bullo River Station in the hopes of locating one or more roost sites.

“At present, there are only 14 officially documented maternal roots in existence. My guess is that they do roost on Bullo River, inside one of the caves large enough to accommodate their 60-centimetre wingspan,” added Rebecca. “The partnership with Bullo River enables us to access a vast and biologically diverse landscape that would otherwise be difficult to survey, helping us build a better understanding of the species that occur here and their occupancy within their known distribution.”

“If we’re able to find a maternal breeding roost, it will make Bullo River a significant property for the conservation of the species.”

The Ghost Bat wasn’t the only exciting discovery made during recent surveys at Bullo River Station. The AWC team also confirmed the presence of two reptiles not previously known to occur on the property: the Top End Mulch Skink and Black-tailed Bar-lipped Skink. Both species were found inside pitfall traps.

“Bullo River Station is in a biologically diverse, yet relatively under-surveyed bioregion, in part due to its remoteness,” said Julian Burt AM, Bullo River Station Co-Owner. “Its rugged ranges, savannas, rivers, floodplains and wetlands support a diverse array of wildlife, yet species distributions remain poorly understood across many properties in this part of the country. We’re working with AWC to build a better understanding of the wildlife that persists across this landscape, and what we can do to protect them into the future.”

For more information on the Ghost Bat, click here, and for more details around the groundbreaking partnership between AWC and Bullo River Station, click here.

Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC) is a pragmatic, on-ground global conservation leader, conserving landscapes and providing hope for Australian wildlife. Informed by science, we deliver measurable conservation impact at scale to secure the future of our most endangered species and their habitats, including restoring degraded landscapes where necessary.

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