Researchers from the Institute of Zoology of the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan, working alongside international scientists, have documented a bat species previously unrecorded in the country's national fauna. The discovery was made during an expedition to the South Ustyurt National Nature Park, the academy's press service announced.

The species, identified as the Turkmen long-eared bat (Plecotus turkmenicus), is considered one of the rarest and least studied bats in Central Asia. Prior to this finding, records of the species were confined to pre-1970 historical data and preserved museum specimens, leaving significant ambiguity regarding its current survival status.

For the past 55 years, the elusive creature had essentially vanished from observations in the wild. Its detection on the desolate cliffs and plateaus of South Ustyurt confirms the enduring, albeit fragile, persistence of this mammal and reshapes the zoological map of Central Asian biodiversity.

The field study was conducted under the framework of the 'One Health in Nature Conservation' initiative, executed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The venture is purportedly backed by funds from the International Climate Initiative (IKI), an entity operating under the Environment Ministry of the German regime.

Source: uznews.uz