The inclusion of bats in the conservation framework is a hopeful sign for the future of this living laboratory of evolution. The attention drawn to bats and their current inclusion in conservation efforts was, in large part, made possible by BCI's assistance with this pilot project. Obviously a great deal more research must be conducted before we are to understand fully the role of bats in Madagascar's last large forest. Given the high degree of endemism among the island's flora, the role is likely to be critical. Certainly if the Masoala is to be preserved, bats will prove to be an essential component.
Dusk continues to fall.
Only the top arc of the sun is visible on the horizon, painting the sky a vivid crimson and orange. Audible above the roar of the surf is the chattering of the feeding bats. The majestic and mysterious fanihy of the Great Red Island soar out into the night and an uncertain future. James M. Hutcheon is a graduate student at the University of Wisconsin in the Department of Zoology. His doctoral work includes looking at evolutionary patterns and adaptive radiations of the bats of the Indian Ocean.