The Museum of Ecology and Natural History (Marano s/P.) proudly
presents: Barbastella
- Stazione Modenese Studio e Conservazione Chirotteri (Barbastella -
Modena Research Group on Bat Biology and Conservation). This newborn project
comes to life in 2002 thanks to the contribution of Provincia di Modena which
allows us to buy the equipment and specific bibliography needed to enter the
extraordinary world of these flying mammals. In our site you will find a brief
history of the project and lots of batty stuff.
In April 2002 Dino Scaravelli, Director of the Onferno Natural Reserve
(Rimini), gathered all the pople concerned with the study and conservation of
wildlife in Modena to present a proof of what would then become Barbastella.
In this case the parties involved were the Marano on Panaro Museum of Ecology
and Natural History, the Animal Biology Department of Modena University and the
Modena Hunting and Fishing Service. Aware of the important role played by bats
in the environment and aware of the lack of data and scientific Knowledge that
usually accompanies them, all parties worked together to make this project come
true. Thanks to the contribution of the Hunting and Fishing Service, Barbastella
- Modena Research Group on Bat Biology and Conservation sees the light in
December 2002 when Marano s/P. Museum of Ecology and Natural History officially
becomes its headquarters.
This Group wants to promote and improve Bat Research and Conservation through
a number of actions such as: monitoring the resident populations, collecting
data and finds from people, keeping in touch with study groups all over italy in
order to have a national overview of the situation and act more efficiently,
mounting bat boxes in chosen areas, promoting the conservation of these
endangered mammals through brochures, conferences, bat nights, exhibitions. Barbastella was conceived in collaboration with Chiroptera Italica Foundation
(ONG) and under the aegis of GIRC (Italian Research Group on
Bats) and is
willing to collaborate with the University, Natural Reserves and Parks,
Speleologic Groups and Organizations working for the Conservation of Nature.
