site.btaNearly Half of Bat Species in Bulgaria Are Found in Golden Sands Nature Park

ESD 11:12:00 13-12-2014
PP1111ES.103
103 ENVIRONMENT-NATURE PARK-BIODIVERSITY

Nearly Half of Bat Species in Bulgaria
Are Found
in Golden Sands Nature Park


Varna, in the Black Sea, December 13 (BTA) - Fifteen of the 33 bat species in
Bulgaria are found in the Golden Sands Nature Park, said
Krassimira Askerova. Askerova heads a EU-funded project which
studies and preserves the park's biodiversity. The project
findings were presented at a working meeting with
environmentalists, and representatives of local authorities,
tourist sector and non-governmental organizations.

The park is the only place in Bulgaria where the Schreiber's
bent-winged bat winters. Experts says that the Schreiber's
bent-winged bat population is on the rise after the galleries
they prefer have been barred from human access. Twenty-five bat
houses have been put up across the park but some have been taken
up by other animals, according to Askerova.

Also, the projects studies all 16 orchid species in the park and
monitors migratory birds. Each year over 166,600 birds fly over
the park. These include 61,000 storks, 2,200 pelicans, and
14,000 birds of prey, among which is the first golden eagle.

With an area of 5 sq m, the Golden Sands nature park is the
smallest of the country's 11 nature parks. It was established in
1943 and its landmark is the rock-hewn Aladzha Monastery. LN/PP



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