Known as the “Key to England” for its defensive quality throughout the country’s history, Dover Castle (in the county of Kent), has been the scene of an unusual discovery: a large horseshoe bat that cannot be seen It has seen in over a century and it represents one of the rarest creatures in Britain.
The mammal dodged flying was identified by Claire and Toby Munn of the Kent Bat Group and discovered in the Horseshoe Passage or Passage Herradura, usually not open to the public as part of the defenses of the medieval castle of Dover 2,000 years of antiquity.
This protected species, which goes by the scientific name Rhinolophus ferrumequinum , has not been seen in Kent for over 100 years. Threatened by the loss of habitat and the use of insecticides by farmers, who destroy their food, there are barely between 4,000 and 6,600 specimens in the United Kingdom. Finding this specimen after 15 months of searching has been like finding a needle in a haystack, for the experts.
“On closer inspection, being careful not to cause any unnecessary disturbance, there was no doubt that this was indeed the largest horseshoe bat we had ever seen. This is a historic find and is just one example of how brilliant it is. it is Dover Castle for supporting a variety of wildlife, which we have been monitoring for some years, both professionally and voluntarily, “the researchers explain.
Referencia: Kent Bat Group
