
Thriving bat population detected at Sutton Hoo near Woodbridge
Referring to the barbastelles, he said: "They are low in density which makes them hard to find, but we find them regularly at Sutton Hoo, so it's a great conservation good news story in our county."
The detectors recorded up to 900 movements per night in some areas of the historic site. Matt Wilson, countryside manager for the National Trust in Suffolk and Essex, said: "The survey results are even better than we thought they might be, with audio from nine to 10 of the UK's 18 species recorded.""It's great to know that both common and rarer bat species, like the barbastelle, are thriving here at Sutton Hoo."Transition Woodbridge, working with university staff and students, had previously detected barbastelles and nine other bat species in people's gardens in the town.
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Telegraph
a day ago
- Telegraph
Australian man dies from ‘extremely rare' virus after bat bite
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BBC News
23-06-2025
- BBC News
Bat with rabies-like virus found on Isle of Wight
An injured bat that was rescued from a back garden turned out to have an extremely rare, rabies-like virus, the Department for Environment and Rural Affairs has animal was found earlier this month in Shorwell on the Isle of resident picked it up wearing gloves and kept it in a shoebox overnight, while waiting for it to be collected by volunteers from Isle of Wight Bat for Environment and Rural Affairs (Defra) said the bat was later found to have a virus that caused rabies, known as European Bat Lyssavirus-1 (EBLV-1) - but Defra said other mammals were not considered to be at risk. Animal, Plant and Health Agency (APHA) said it investigated and found no scratches or bites to humans or are two types of viruses that cause rabies carried in bats in the UK - EBLV-1 and EBLV-2. Both are extremely rare in the UK and their presence does not change the UK's status as a rabies-free country, according to Defra. EBLVs cause the rabies disease but they are not the classical rabies virus associated with dogs and responsible for most rabies cases worldwide, according to the Bat Conservation Trust. Alex Morss, from the trust, said: "Rabies-related viruses have only ever been recorded in less than 0.3% of all bats tested since 1986 (59 bats of 19,000 tested), and in only two of the 18 bat species present in the UK, the serotine bat and the Daubenton's bat."He added: "There have only been two recorded cases of rabies viruses from an infected wild British animal in a human in Britain since records began - One case was in 1902, the other case was in 2002."European Bat Lyssavirus-1 (EBLV-1) has been detected in Serotine bats since 2018, with the first case being found in Dorset, according to APHA. As of May 2024, 34 cases of EBLV-1 had been reported in the UK, according to research from the University of Surrey and APHA. Legally protected Mr Morss said anyone who suspected they had been licked, bitten or scratched by a bat should contact the National Bat Helpline - 0345 1300 228 - and seek immediate medical assistance. Vaccinations provided soon after exposure are 100% effective in preventing the disease, according to the NHS. "There is no risk to human health if you do not handle British bats, even if they are roosting in buildings you use, Mr Morss said. "No action should be taken to disturb or harm any wild bats or their roosts."Bats are non-aggressive, shy mammals and will avoid contact with humans."All 18 British bat species and their roosts are legally protected. Mr Morss said bats should only ever be handled by a person with a licence and after appropriate training, unless a bat in distress is being rescued, in which case thick gloves and a face mask or covering should be worn.


Spectator
07-06-2025
- Spectator
How Britain can poach America's top scientists
From the time of Newton, Britain led the world in science. That began to change in 1940, when, with the Battle of Britain raging, Winston Churchill sent the scientist Henry Tizard on a secret mission to America. His objective was to secure financial and industrial help in the fight against Hitler. His currency was British military technology, in particular the cavity magnetron, a device that made it possible to locate the enemy with radar. This wowed the Americans and achieved his objective. According to one historian, it was 'the most valuable cargo ever brought to [America's] shores.' While this was a hand-over of scientific power, it catalysed the Anglo-American scientific alliance, which has seen a flow of talent ever since between our two nations. At times there have been concerns that this might be one-way traffic: from us to them.