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Bats in the biosphere reserve Wienerwald - making kids and adolescents active for research and species conservancy

Project partners: Österreichische Bundesforste AG, Unternehmensleitung, Pummergasse 10-12, 3002 Purkersdorf, Austria.
Function of the Project Partner: Partner

BOKU Research Units: Institute for Landscape Development, Recreation and Conservation Planning; Institute of Zoology

Funded by: Austrian Research Promotion Agency, Sensengasse 1, 1090 Wien, Austria

Abstract: In the course of guided forest tours and excursions in the region the increase of deficits among children concerning their knowledge of native wild animals has become clear. There is hardly any other group of animals which evokes such different reactions – reaching from fascination to disgust – as bats. The acceptance by the population, however, is an important factor of success for protection efforts in favour of the largely endangered bat species. As the negative image of the animals is primarily a result of unfounded prejudices, numerous activities for knowledge transfer are set by educational as well as business partners within the project. In this project, the Institute of Zoology records flying bats in the vicinity of the schools and analyses the data together with the kids. It is aimed to create long-term networks within which children and young people together with their families take part in the protection of bats – far beyond the project period.

Keywords: animal ecology; zoology; Nature conservation (- research) ; didactics;; landscape ecology; countryside stewardship;; landscape planning; nature conservation; zoology;