Guwahati, April 18 -- On International Bat Appreciation Day, Friday, April 17, a new national assessment was released, raising concerns about bat populations in Assam, which are affected by habitat loss, mining, and changes in agriculture.

The assessment, titled State of India's Bats (2024-25), the first nationwide evaluation in over two decades, documents 135 bat species in India, including 16 endemic species.

It notes that seven species are listed as threatened by the IUCN.

The assessment identifies the region as a major area for bat diversity, with Meghalaya recording 66 species. It also points to pressures in Assam, where colonies of Indian flying foxes (Pteropus giganteus) have been displaced due to tree felling and land use chang...