Urban and peri-urban bats (Mammalia: Chiroptera) in Manizales, Colombia: exploring a conservation area in sub-Andean and Andean ecosystems

In Colombia, 217 bat species have been recorded of which at least 22 species occur in Andean and sub-Andean ecosystems. To evaluate the richness of bats in an Andean elevational range at the Municipality of Manizales, Central Andes of Colombia, we performed surveys supplemented with incidental captures from 2018 to 2022 at different urban and peri-urban areas, and reviewed specimens in biological collections. We evaluated the perception and knowledge that local people have about bats using an online survey. We reported 33 species in the study area. Phyllostomidae showed the highest richness (20 species), followed by Vespertilionidae (11 species), and Molossidae (2 species). For the survey, we obtained responses from 219 people who showed a good knowledge about bats and their ecological importance. We did not find significant differences between ages and levels of schooling in the perception about bats. Our results highlight the relevance of conserving the green areas of Manizales and the need for environmental education programs to reduce possible bat-human conflicts and negative perceptions. Manizales has the potential as an Area of Importance for the Conservation of Bats, due to its high bat richness and that reproduction is occurring within the study area.