/in News/by

Bats and water are closely connected. There are bat species that hunt exclusively above water, but all of them hydrate at rivers and lakes. Watercourses also guide bats during their seasonal migration. Therefore, in 2026, the CBRC is implementing the project “Bats in the gorges: nocturnal tales from protected areas”, together with the Iron Gates Nature Park and Jiului Gorge National Park, funded by MOL Romania, through the Environmental Partnership Foundation. The aim of the project is to improve the conservation of natural values in the Iron Gates and the Jiului Gorge, by involving local communities in bat conservation, as well as by raising awareness among park visitors about the importance of bats and their role in ecosystems.

The landscape of Iron Gates is dominated by the course of the Danube, which, especially through the Small and Great Gorges (Cazanele Mici and Cazanele Mari), gives the area an extraordinary and dramatic beauty. The biodiversity of the Iron Gates is remarkable, being among the richest in Romania. The area provides habitats for more than 3,000 plant species, over 250 bird species, and numerous amphibians, reptiles, mammals, and invertebrates. Of Romania’s 32 bat species, at least 23 are present in the caves and habitats of the Iron Gates, including several colonies of continental importance, such as those in Gura Ponicovei and Veterani Caves.

Jiului Gorge is a spectacular place, naturally shaped by the course of the Jiu River. The national park hosts over 900 plant species, 500 animal species, and 18 habitat types. The park preserves four major ecosystems: forest ecosystems (covering over 85% of the surface, including 3,000 hectares of quasi-virgin forests), grassland ecosystems, rocky ecosystems, and aquatic ecosystems (represented by the Jiu River and its main tributaries). Of Romania’s 32 bat species, 13 have already been identified in the national park. No caves sheltering bat colonies have been identified within the protected area, but the park’s forests provide ideal habitats for forest-dwelling species such as the Barbastelle (Barbastella barbastellus) and Lesser Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus hipposideros).

The public often has misconceptions about bats, considering them dangerous or disease carriers. These false and unfounded perceptions have repeatedly led to the destruction of bat roosts and colonies in Romania. The project will combat myths and fake news, while promoting the importance of bats for people and the environment. Younger generations are usually the most receptive to interesting information about bats, but the wider public also needs accessible information to change perceptions. In general, the project objectives target (1) education and awareness raising and (2) promotion of ecological and responsible tourism. More specifically, the project objectives are:

  • O1. Increasing the level of knowledge and skills regarding bat conservation in the ecosystems of Iron Gates Nature Park and Jiului Gorge National Park, by organizing four field trips for students and two workshops for teachers from local communities.
  • O2. Improving public perception regarding bats and their conservation through modern educational tools and events: an Interactive Corner in Iron Gates Nature Park, information panels and artificial bat boxes in Jiului Gorge National Park, and “International Bat Night” events in both protected areas.

The direct beneficiaries of the project are students and teachers from schools located near the two protected areas, their visitors and residents, and more broadly, people transiting these protected areas as well as the public. Between April and September 2026, with a budget of 39,907.50 RON, the project will organize field trips for students, workshops for teachers, create the Interactive Bat Corner in the Visitor Centre of Iron Gates Nature Park, and install information panels together with artificial bat boxes along tourist trails in Jiului Gorge National Park. Two events from the “International Bat Night” series will also take place – an event with tradition since 1997 in dozens of European countries, organized under the auspices of EUROBATS.