Bats are the only mammals capable of active flight and are active at night. Bats are not blind—they can see with their eyes—but since visibility is very poor at night, when they are active, they use echolocation to navigate. 34 species have been recorded in Croatia, and as many as 23 species in Plitvice Lakes National Park. All bat species in Croatia are protected.
Research and monitoring of the condition of bats in the Park has been conducted for many years. The Croatian Biospeleological Society is conducting “Research and Monitoring of Bats in Speleological and Surface Structures of Plitvice Lakes National Park” in cooperation with the Park’s Professional Service Department. Bats are most easily tracked while they are resting, in caves and other man-made structures, during the day or during winter hibernation.
A long-fingered bat (Myotis capaccinii)
The aim of monitoring is to determine the population status of individual bat species in Plitvice Lakes National Park, the status of speleological and surface structures they use for winter hibernation, maternity colonies or simply for rest during the warmer part of the year/day.
Marina Kipson 
Nyctalus noctula (foto: Karolina Kipson)
Bats are excellent indicators of the condition of the ecosystem they inhabit, and monitoring them is a valuable tool for monitoring the state of nature and the impact of climate change and human activity.
