Notes from the artist, Molly Schafer: There are only a few photographic images of the Seychelles sheath-tailed bat. My print is based on a close up photo taken by Dr. Justin Gerlach. I wanted to incorporate dark purples or indigo in my image to allude to the night sky. I ended up painting the bat hanging from an amethyst cluster, the pointed crystals adding a sense of wonder and evoking stalagmites that would be found in a cave.
More about Nature Protection Trust of Seychelles: Research by Dr. Justin Gerlachand and The Nature Protection Trust of Seychelles (NPTS) identifies habitat destruction and the effects of introduced plant species over the last 30 years as the cause for population decline. Using an infra-red CCTV camera NPTS is able to monitor and count the bats without disturbing them.
CLICK HERE to add this print to your cart and pay online, or CLICK HERE to pay by check.
More about Nature Protection Trust of Seychelles: Research by Dr. Justin Gerlachand and The Nature Protection Trust of Seychelles (NPTS) identifies habitat destruction and the effects of introduced plant species over the last 30 years as the cause for population decline. Using an infra-red CCTV camera NPTS is able to monitor and count the bats without disturbing them.
CLICK HERE to add this print to your cart and pay online, or CLICK HERE to pay by check.
ABOUT THE SEYCHELLES SHEATH-TAILED BAT
The Seychelles Sheath-Tailed Bat belongs to an ancient family of sheath-tailed bats, named for the membrane that stretches between their back legs. An amazing adaptation, the membrane, or sheath-tail, allows the bat greater maneuverability in flight. By shifting their hind legs, the bat can adjust it's sheath mid flight. This extra maneuvering comes in handy when hunting insect prey like moths and beetles. The Seychelles Sheath-Tailed Bat is nocturnal and does it's hunting at night. During the day it roosts in boulder caves in the coastal areas of the Seychelles Islands.
These unique bats are only found on the Seychelles Islands, a group of 115 islands northeast of Madagascar and east of Kenya. The remaining bat populations now reside only on 2 of the 115 islands, Silhouette and Mahé. The bats are considered to be extinct on the other islands, and can be difficult to locate and therefore study. Two of the three roosts on Mahé are near development sites and serious disturbances to these populations are, sadly, considered inevitable. Survival of the species on Mahé requires urgent attention. Prevention of development in the surrounding areas and intensive habitat restoration are needed to help ensure it's survival. Your purchase of the ESPP's Seychelles Sheath-Tailed Bat will help to support these efforts.
Please read an update about NPTS efforts to conserve the Seychelles sheath-tailed bat here
The Seychelles Sheath-Tailed Bat belongs to an ancient family of sheath-tailed bats, named for the membrane that stretches between their back legs. An amazing adaptation, the membrane, or sheath-tail, allows the bat greater maneuverability in flight. By shifting their hind legs, the bat can adjust it's sheath mid flight. This extra maneuvering comes in handy when hunting insect prey like moths and beetles. The Seychelles Sheath-Tailed Bat is nocturnal and does it's hunting at night. During the day it roosts in boulder caves in the coastal areas of the Seychelles Islands.
These unique bats are only found on the Seychelles Islands, a group of 115 islands northeast of Madagascar and east of Kenya. The remaining bat populations now reside only on 2 of the 115 islands, Silhouette and Mahé. The bats are considered to be extinct on the other islands, and can be difficult to locate and therefore study. Two of the three roosts on Mahé are near development sites and serious disturbances to these populations are, sadly, considered inevitable. Survival of the species on Mahé requires urgent attention. Prevention of development in the surrounding areas and intensive habitat restoration are needed to help ensure it's survival. Your purchase of the ESPP's Seychelles Sheath-Tailed Bat will help to support these efforts.
Please read an update about NPTS efforts to conserve the Seychelles sheath-tailed bat here
