The Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve has announced the discovery of a new bat species, Vansonia rueppellii (Rüppell’s bat), marking its first recorded presence in Saudi Arabia. This keystone species, known for its crucial role in pollination and pest control, adds to the Kingdom’s rich biodiversity. The discovery, made in October 2023 in collaboration with KAUST’s Al-Manara Development, was published in the scientific journal Zoology in the Middle East in November 2024. While Rüppell’s bat has been documented in Egypt, Sudan, Yemen, and Iraq, this marks its inaugural record in Saudi Arabia. “Adding Rüppell’s bat to the rich biodiversity of Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve is a remarkable scientific achievement, as the reserve now contains 18 of Saudi Arabia’s 32 bat species, or 56%,” said Andrew Zaloumis, CEO of the reserve. He emphasized that bat diversity serves as an indicator of successful ecosystem restoration and reiterated the reserve’s commitment to advancing global conservation knowledge. David Wells, Senior Associate Director of Environment at Al Manara Development, highlighted the significance of multidisciplinary collaboration in achieving conservation goals. “This fieldwork has increased our knowledge of bat diversity in the Kingdom and proven the great value of such surveys,” he said. Bats […]