distribution, status, and conservation of bats in the fiji islands

Key sites and areas for conservation
macdonaldi, which may have a few thousand individuals. Several hundred or even a few
thousand swiftlets make the estimation of the numbers of bats present very difficult.
We did not get any evidence that these bats are presently taken by local people, but the
proximity with a large village makes this quite likely. However, entering the cave is not
easy because of the stream, which at the time of our visit had a fairly strong current. This
colony has been known to the scientific community since at least 1912 (Andersen 1912, in
Mickleburgh et al. 1992). It would be important to bring to the attention of the people of
Kalabu the significance of the bat colony that roosts in their cave.
The cave is on the edge of Colo-i-Suva Forest Park, and consequently its bats are
presumably important pollinating agents in that area and adjacent forests.
5.7. Wainibuku Cave
Kalabu (Viti Levu)
Like the Kalabu cave, this cave is also about 200 m long by 10-15 m high, and cut buy a
stream that still flows through its full length. It harbours a colony with a few thousand N.
macdonaldi, and very large numbers of swiftlets. It is located in a rural area but, like the
Kalabu cave, is immediately adjacent to the Colo-i-Suva Forest Park.
The fact that this colony is just 3 km north of another important colony (Kalabu) suggests
that caves suitable to harbour large colonies of this species are a limiting resource. In fact,
Viti Levu is almost entirely volcanic, and spacious caves are only known in a few small
limestone areas. This situation reinforces the importance of preserving all the four caves
where N. macdonaldi is known to roosts in Fiji.
In the 1970’s Mike Tarburton observed E. semicaudata in this cave (personal
communication).
5.8. Caves and adjoining forests in the Lau Islands
(Lau Group)
The islands of the Lau group often have relatively extensive limestone areas, in which
there are good numbers of large caves (Ladd & Hoffmaister 1945, Nunn et al. 1991).
Several of these caves still harbour colonies of Emballonura semicaudata, and although
there is evidence that the species has declined here, the situation is certainly better than in
the larger Fijian islands and in most of the Pacific. The species also survives elsewhere in
Fiji in numbers that deserve conservation investment (e.g. in Yaqeta – Yasawa group), but
overall it is in Lau that we see the best perspectives for its long term preservation. We
visited caves occupied by E. semicaudata in the islands of Aiwa, Lakeba, Nayau, and
Cicia, and heard credible descriptions of the presence of the species on other islands of the
group, such as Totoya. It would be important to survey other islands to further clarify the
species range and status, allowing a better identification of conservation priorities.
The limestone outcrops where we found caves with bats are usually covered with native
forest, and those forested areas may be very important for the survival of E. semicaudata
(see discussion in species accounts). On some islands (e.g. Lakeba and Cicia) the
remaining forest patches are very small, but a good part of Nayau is still forested.
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