Shei-Pa National Park sets Taiwan record with 27 bat species at single site

Taipei, Jan. 23 (CNA) Long-term monitoring by Chen Chia-hung (陳家鴻) at Shei-Pa National Park has documented 27 bat species in Guanwu National Forest Recreation Area, the highest number recorded at a single site in Taiwan, the park said Thursday.

Park technician Chen has conducted surveys and monitoring in his spare time for nearly two decades, the park said, stressing that his efforts have highlighted the area's importance as a mid to high-altitude forest.

Notable discoveries last year included the endangered Asian parti-colored bat, the rare Hodgson's bat which reappeared after 19 years, and the necklace sprite newly recorded in the area, the park said in a news release.

The Asian parti-colored bat, once thought extinct in Taiwan, was first recorded in Guanwu in 2006. After reappearing in 2024, Chen captured one in 2025, providing valuable data on seasonal activity, habitat use, and potential overwintering strategies.

The Hodgson's bat was captured for the first time in Guanwu since 2006. Rare in Taiwan, its population size and distribution remain unclear, the park said.

The bat's reappearance suggests Guanwu may serve as a stopover or overwintering site, underscoring the area's conservation value, it said.

In September, Chen also captured a necklace sprite, marking the first time the species was recorded in Guanwu, the park said. Endemic to Taiwan, it is named after its pale yellow neck-to-shoulder fur and is typically found near mid-altitude streams.